IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


IL25  11.4 


IttlM    12.5 

150     ^^^        H^^l 

^  Uii    |2.2 

1.6 


.5 


H 


5 


7] 


/2 


/ 


R 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


V 


iV 


•ss 


<^ 


''  ■^ 

V 


33  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)872-4503 


^ 


4 


%' 


'. 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


»,»'•■ 


v'.vi 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquas 


The  Institute  hat  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


□ 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  da  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculte 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  llure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  iorsque  ceia  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  4t4  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 

Q   Coloured  pages/ 
Paget  de  couleur 

□   Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur Aes  et/ou  pelliculAes 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dAcolor6es,  tacheties  ou  piquies 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  ki^tach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiit^  intgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


r^  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I     I  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


*, 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  r6duction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

10X                            14X                             18X                            22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

"■  > 

12X 

16X 

aox 

a4x 

28X 

32X 

-*!>. 


Th«  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  In  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
khall  contain  the  symbol  ^►(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IMaps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


i,  f.;  : 

:     t 

3 

L'exempiaire  filmA  f ut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArosit*  de: 

BibiiothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  At6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  ia  condition  et 
de  ia  nettett  de  l'exempiaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  ie  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen9ant  par  ia 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  ia 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  ie 
cas:  ie  symboie  "-^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbole  ▼  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  cliche,  ii  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  i'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  ie  nombre 
d'images  ntcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


!            %       ::i- 

:     • 

3 

i, 

4 

• 

6 

,rf 


I' 


1 


V 


\-^ 


AMERICAN 

PTAVAL   BATTLES; 

PLfera  mSTORT  OF  THE  BATTLE&  FOUGHT  BT  THB 

I*    N  A^;v  Y 

or  THB 

UNITED    STATES, 

WBX^  ITS  ESTABMSHMENT  IN  1794  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME} 


V^ 


fVi   W4i9t   IfttV    ItKApffAlO)   THirou^   Tmi  hAXm    WAK   WIXB 

OUUT  BBITAIN,  JNW  WITO  ALQlkib  j    WITH  AN  ACOOUflT 

0»  «n  AJMAOK  ON  BALVUIQiS,  ANO  OV  TWI 

^vri.1  Qp  ifBw  <mM4Iajk«. 


BB»1MBNTIJM>  BATfUBSt  *iii. 


.  BOSTON: 

PBINTID  AND  PUBUSHED  BT  0HABLB8  OATLOBD. 

1837* 


"^' 


£  \9:i 

l«37 


3275 


OF  MASSAOHTOfemiA  ^  wn  t 

^Jlft     INMrM  Cbrft*«  <tfke. 

Ana^iidnbt  1891  Hiikn 

tll|»<ftfe|l*,t||wti^ff 


'^' 


: 


i    • 


CONTENTS. 


Oaioix  and  eitabluhment  of  the  Nftvy     • 
.  Naval  force  &1I861       ^,     -        '      . 

Oiapiaui  l^uzitm         IF*  •       . 
Captoire  of  the  Iii9iirgtnte      -  ^. 

Action  between  Oongtellation  and  Trageanee 
ieaptain  LttUe—fKpe  «|Moii 
.  vi^uie  oi  Le  Berpeau  '  ■"''^^''^'  v   ^-  *  •-; 
C^^iiaih  Sterr^   -  ^^  ^        v      ^ 

*  Schooner  Experiment— lieutenant  Stewart 
Capture  of  the  Dianas    - 
0|»erationg  in  the  Mdditenr«Qean  u%|^  eonanodoM  Preble 


11 
II 
11 
i9 
19 
15 
15 

n 

IT 
19 


Gommodoife  Pireble»s  intei^i|iir  with  ttie  emperor  of  Jfforoeoo  SS 


Loss  of  the  frigate  Philadejpiia 

Burning  of  the  Philadelphia 

Attack  on  Tripoli     - 

President  and  Little  Belt 

President  and  Belvidere 

Escape  of  the  Constitution  from  a 

Capture  of  the  Guerriere 

First  cruiseoir  the  Essex  and  capture  of 

Cruise  of  the  Wasp  and  capture  of  the  Fi 

Capture  of  the  Wasp       -    '         . 

Second  cruise  of  commodore  Rodgerr   - 

Captuire  of  the  SwaUow  -  -  %i, , 

Cruise  of  the  AJ^n» 

United  States 


S9 

-  85 
«?-^l 

-  41 


•quadron 


/; 


51 
58 
6f 

69    * 

t^#  ■ 


f 


I ....  \. 


t  •':v^'*s%s5!i 


m 


■i*  ■ 


^- 


M 


■      ! 


■ 


,^  CONTBIITS. 

Caplura  of  the  Macedonian    -  .  . 

Java       -  - 

ilentenant  Aylwm.  -  - 

Rornot  and  Bonne  Oitojrenne         -  •  ,. 

Capture  of  the  Peacock         -  -  . 

CAieeapedie  and  ShaMu^ 

Letter  of  commodore  Broke    -  •» 

Death  and  ffanpral  obsaquiea  of  Lawrence  and  Lqdlow   94, 

Slockade  ef  New  London       ... 
^   MGipture  of  the  Eagle      .  •  .     - 

^ivd  cruise  of  the  Prendtfkit  .      . 

bruise  of  the  Congren   .  "••^ 

Argue  imd  Pelican        •        >,  •  . 

.   0eatli  apd  funeral  Of  e^ptaiB  Allen  «        '      ^ 

•  Enterprise,  ftnd  Boxer  >  /•  )l  - 
Funeral  of  lieutenant  Burrows  and  captain  ]ftlythe 
Letter  from  captain  Hull  ^      .              .     ^     . 

from  lieutenant  M'Call         .  I* 

'  Captain  *Hull's  card  «     .  .  . 

..    '  .   letter  to  commodore  Bainbridge  - 

Cruise  of  the  fisnex  in  the  Pacific  t>cean 
Action  in  the  harbour  of  Valparaiso  and  loss  of  tho  Esaez 
Baturn  of  paptain  Porter        > 
t'ke  Aliigator  -  . 

Cenamodore  Rodgers  >    *  .  . 

Peacock  and  Epervier.  .  '  -  .      v^.  ^;;^t 

,  G^ise  of  the  Wasp        '^       -  -  . 

*  Ol^ttre  of  the  Reindeer  ^*  -  *  . 

,l.'^^on.   *     ■     -    ■       ■  -    ■■  , 
Less  of  the  Presideq^  .  '  .  . 

Capture  of  th^  Cia^'  and  Levant 
Blockade  of  Cb  "  '^^ 
Sehooner  Lottery 
iPrivateer  Dolphin 

Attack  on  Havrej4i^^ii»      f.  -.        •     . 

Or 


iake  and  Delaware  bajra  - 


70 

15 

80 

81 

86 

88 

89 

100 

tOl 

103 

109 

lOT 

108 

118 

in 

180 

181 

138 

189* 

186 

186 

199 

141 

142 

149 

149 

146 

146 

147 

m 

m 

iB9 
160 
160 
160 
161 
162 


.fti'^A\l._y, 


-"\- 


COITTBirTS. 

Sciiooner  Asp  .  .  ,  .  •  . 

Torpmlo  -  -  .  ^        - 

Attack  on  Lewntown  .  •  . 

^^unboat  action        -  .  • 

JpiTenta  on  lake  Erie        -  •  •  . 

Capture  of  the  Britiah  fleet     -  .  . 

Efenta  on  lako  Ontario   -  -  ,   • 

Eventa  oq  lake  Ghamplain      -  .  • 

Battle  of  Plattsburg        -  .  •        ,     . 

Letter  of  commodore  M'Donough  -  •• 

Attack  on  Baltimore  -  .  .  .  ^ 

^Battle  of  New  Orlean^    .  .  .  * 

President  and  Plantagent  -       «  .  ^ 

Esca j>e  of  the  Constitation  from  the  TenedM  and  Eadjoiion 
Hornet  and  Penguw  .  •  , 

Escape  of  the  Hornet     -  -  .  , 

The  Atlas  -  -  *    . 

.The  Yoang  Ei^Ie  - 

^e  Montgomery    -  .  .    ^        .     . 

the  Dolphin  -  .* 

The  Rolla  -  ^  -         ^     •  '. 

The  Comet             -  -              «              - 

^e  General  Armstrong  «               . 

v|^  Young  Teazer  ,-              -              • 

Th^  Decatur                   -  .^              mi. 

.^e  Saratoga          -  . -            ^.,  ^:;.  .  ^^  v^. ..'■■:„ 

.||fie  General  Armstrong  -    ;,{<•!  ,4',       , 

Lfltter  from  <:aptain  Ckmible  -               -  ,        ,    . 

Sketch  of  the  Algerine  wai'  '    -         ,  ,|,« 

Naval  poetry           -  -               .     «  *  '  ^ 

List  of  the  Americnn  Navy  ,  -         ;^|, 


V 

let 
let 

164 
186 
166 
166 

lis 

IW  ' 

168 

198 

m  ' 

904 
815  .  * 

318        i 


896 


SS8 


ftSfi 
937 
843 

968 
919 


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J*-. 


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yr 


'is    . 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


i.v 


The  benefits  top'be  derived  from  historical  records 
of  noble  achievements  whether  physical  or  moral  are 
universally  acknowledged.  The  ambition  of  the 
student,  the  warrior,  or  the  statesman  is  stimulated 
by  the  accounts  transmitted  in  this  manner ;  and  the 
Patriotic  of  every  age  and  nation  have  heard  with 
pride  the  heroic  deeds  of  their  countrymen  recounted, 
whether  it  be  done  by  the  faithful  pen  of  the  impar- 
tial historian,  or  recorded  in  the  page  of  Historical 
Romance.  It  is  with  the  desire  of  commemorating 
some  of  the  most  remarkable  exploits  of  our  gallant 
seaman  that  the  following  plain  and  unvarnished  de- 
scription of  the  Naval  Battles  fought  by^  them  since 
the  c^stablishment  of  the  American  Navy  is  offered  to 
the  public;  b|E>lieving  it  will  be  useful  to  the  whole 
American  People  and  especially  to  the  rising  genera- 
tion, prompting  them  to  emulate  the  Heroic  daringi 
and  that  high  minded  self  respect  which  has  uniform- 
ly distingiushed  the  American  Comman^.  No  opa 
can  read  these  pages  without  being  filled,  with  admi- 
ration at  the  ^t  majority  of  victories  l^ich  hata 
«rowned  the  efforts  df  our  Gallant  ^tvy.    Indeed 


RAVAL  9ATTI.I8. 


r.: 


during  tlie  cootintiance  of  the  late  war  with  Greit 
JB^tain  there  are  but  two  intunces  of  the  lots  of  an 
American  Ship  where  the  forces  were  nearly  equal, 
m.-7the  Cheiapeake  and  the  Argus ;  and  we  cer- 
tainly cannot  consider  the  former  as  having  been  of 
equbl  force  with  the  Shannon,  although  the  number 
of  guns  we/e  so  nearly  equal,  (the  Shannon  having  in 
all  63  guns  and  the  Chesapeake  48)  on  ai^ount  of  the 
di|ierence  in  the  crews,  the  Shannon  having  been  at 
tea  l|pg  enough  to  discipline  hers-completely,  while 
die  crew  of  the  Chesapeake  were  scarcely  out  of 
port.  Nor  is  the  meed  of  praise  due  to  our  gaUant 
Tars  for  bravery  in  action  alone,  for  we  have  abun- 
dant evidenoe  in  the  fdHowing  pages  of  very  superior 
•kill  in  Naval  Tactics  and  Seamanship,  at  well  as  in 
battle.  There  is  not  probably  on  the  pages  of  histo^ 
ry  a  more  brilliant  illustration  of  these  qualities  tlian 
in  the  escapie  of  the  Constitution  from  the  British 
Fleet  in  July,  1812.  In  eveiy  naval  engagemenl 
seamen  idone  can  %^  how  much  depends  upon  skill 
and  celerity  in  msiiaging  the  ship. 

Hie  accounts  ure  carefully  selected  from  the  bett 
Authorities  and  uninteresting  detail  as  much  as  possi* 
bte 'ilvoided.  It  has  been  attempted  to  preserve  a 
coimiected  tttoiative  at  fkr  as  the  nature  of  the  tmder^ 
taking  would  pcftmitj  and  to  mttko  the  work  some^ 
thilig  itio^  iliKn  a  tme  coHe^ion  ^  dficial  dodo- 
mtkta  and  lioact^  fr6tti1%  books.  The  HtMi 
tSiiB  of  ^i^tliiin«'dOi»s  fibt  admit  of  io  <«ompIet»^^^ 
MM6ri^iN>m«i«fidertW0ilMwi^,lttt  it  ^mbrae^'^ 
ili^  bmp^heniilit^'^eW  of  thiiifera^     df  tttit 


p»/^. 


•\if 


: 


-I 


NAVAL  BATTkM. 


i* 


If  cry  tlNUi  any  other  pnMicatkni,  aad  tlw  engravlngt 
tre  done  in  n  style  of  eleganee  whiek  doee  hoaor  tA 
'tile  artiitt  who  executed  them. 


In  die  rerolutionary  wir,  WM<ft  ^tnre  inde]ien- 
dence  and  eharacter  to  the  United  States  of  Ante- 
tka,  se? ecal  armed  vessels  were  in  commission',  and 
performed  exploits,  that  confer  immortality  on  the 
names  f^^  Barry,  Manlt,  Jo»^es,  and  etiiers.  Dur- 
ing the  latter  years  of  the  >contest,  irom  (he  want 
of  finances,  the  depreciation  ef  .paper  cnrrency,  and, 
perhaps,  still  AMNre,  from  the  allianee  With  France 
supplying  a  naval  force,  little  was  done  to  augment, 
or  even  to  maintain,  that  of  our  own  nation ;  and, 
shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the  few  ships, 
that  had  constituted  the  navy,  were  eeld  by  order 
of  Congress. 

•  The  depredations  committed  on  our  commerce 
in  the  Mediterranean,  by  the  piratlcfld  corsairs  of 
the  Barbery  powerii  induced  Cdng^resftfin  1794,  to 
undertake  the  formation  of  a  nRVttl  force  for  its 
protection.  Four  ships,  of  fort^MlbM'  gmis  each, 
and  two  of  thirty-six>  were  ovdef^  to  be  built.-— 
The  act  authorizing  the  constMeiieBf  «f  these  ships, 
pneaed  lhefwiarr!r<4nviifrii  iiAVOt  Miv«oil^it4iich 
81^  be  oansidereii  as  the  day<  ihae  gate  ^xikfenee  ti 

the  navy  o(  the  United  States.  h;  ^  ^    / 

2 


'■  ■  -:■:■  t  >» 

5    .%      ■* 


■•-f*'\l 


10 


NATAL  BATTLES. 


! 

1^ 


? 


I 


The  creation  and  establishment  of  a  permanent  and 
efficient  naval  force,  for  the  protection  of  commerce 
and  the  defence  of  the  seacoast  in  case  of  war,  had* 
alwajs  been  advocated  by  Mr.  John  Adams;  and 
during  the  term  of  his  presidencj,  from  March,  1797^ 
to  March,  1801,  the  object  was  pursued  with  great 
7.eal  and  energy*  To  no  individual  is  the  nation! 
more  indebted,  than  to  Mr.  Adams  ;  and  posteritji 
will  hail  him  as  the  fath£r  of  the  amebican  navt.  . 
In  1798,  there  were  in  service  twenty  vessels ;  in 
1799,  upwards  of  thirty.  A  law  was  passed,  direct- 
ing the  building  of  six  seventy-four  gun  ships,  which»^ 
however,  was  never  carried  into  effect.  In  1801|t 
the  navy  consisted  of  «the  following  ships : 

United  States. 
•   President 

Constitution  . 

Philadelphia 

Chesapeake 

Constellation 
,1.  Congress 

New-York 

Boston 

Essex 

Adams 

John  Adams 

General  Greene 

^All  the  other  public  vessels  were  ordered  by  Con* 

gress  to  be  sold,  and  the  building  of  those  authoriMd 


U 
44 
36 
36 
36 
36 
32 
32 
82 
32 
32 


I 


«• 


:.!M 


ff*.. 


'm  ^t^  -^ 


■<»wf 


■  .    '^^ 


ir 


lb 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  11 


CAPTAIN  THOMAS  TRUXTON. 

Was  one  of  the  first  six  captains  appointed  by  the 
President,  at  the  organization  of  the  naval  establish- 
ment, in  1794.  He  was  directed  to  superintend  the 
building  of  the  Constellation,  of  36  guns,  at  Balti- 
more, and  to  take  the  command  of  her  when  ecpiipped 

The  Commerce  of  the  United  States  having  suf- 
fered much*  from  the  ravages  of  the  French,  both  in 
national  vessels  and  privateers,  Captain  Truxton  was 
sent  wirii  a  squadron  to  the  West  Indies  for  its  pro- 
tection. 

Qn  the  ninth  Of  February,  1799,  at  noon,  the  is- 
land of  Nevis  bearing  w.  i^..  w.  five  leagues  distant, 
the  Constellation  being  then  alone,  a  large*  ship  was 
discovered  to  the  southward,  which  proved  to  be  the 
French  frigate  Insurgente,  of  forty  guns  and  four 
hundred  and  seventeen  men.  Commodore  Truxton 
bore  down  upon  her,  and,  at  a  quarter  past  three, 
ranging  along  side,  poured  a  broadside  into  her,  which 
Was  immediately  returned.  After  a  warm  action  of 
an  hour  and  ^  quarter,  the  Fretich  ship  struck: 
twenty-nine  of  her  crew  were  killed,  and  forty-four 
wounded.  The  Constellation  had  only  one  man  kill  • 
ed,  and  two  wounded'. 

On  the  first  of  Felvuary,  TBOOf  the  Constellation 
boifig^  alon^  m  the' rt^bf  Basseterre,  at  half  past 
stven  A«  H.  Guadaloufie' bearing  eastward,  about  five 
lOagues  distant,  a  saU  was  discovered,  which,  oil  i^ 


II 


NAVAL    DATTLfiV. 


if     ' 


proaching,  commodore  Traxton  ascertained  to  W  c 
heavy  French  frigate,  of  J%-foiir  giini.  He  im- 
mediately prepared  his  ship  for  action.  He  con- 
«ittitd  tfa«'Chftsii  tiU  one  >th»n«xt  day,  whdii  a  fttesh 
mtA  <eiHibliid  him  to  ^in  wfKm  her*  At  eight  hi  th« 
•venhig^  I  having  got  wttiiin  hail,  he  hoisted  his  e#^ 
sign  ;  had  all  the  candka  in  the  inttle  la^tenl8'ligh^i 
ed ;  add  was  in  the  lee  gang  way,  ready  to  speak  ttf 
the  French  ship,  when  she  commenced  a  fire  from  her 
atertt  and  quarter  guns  at  the  rigging  of  the^Conste^ 
ktion^  Having  repeated  the  orders  he  had  hefMro 
giT«n,>cMnaodore  I'raxtett,  k  a  few  >nomenFis  gahi<* 
ed  a  position  on  the  weather  of  the  French  ship^ 
whidi  enabled  him  effectaally  toretarn  her  bfoad- 
side*  After  a  dose  and  ^vere  action  of  about  iBmt 
hours,  the  fire  .of  the  French  ship  was  completely 
sUenced,  and  she  sheered  off,  at  the  moment  when 
Truxtoo  coanidered  her  as  his  prke,  *and  had  otdered 
the  tattered  sails  of  the  Consteilatioa  to/be  trimmed* 
It  wias  then  pensstved  that  the  main-asast  was  totally 
unsnppoited  f  by  ^  Ingging,  « veiy  ahnasd  having  t  been 
ihot «way.  All  effuts  to jupportthe  mast wwte  use^ 
less ;  it  went  over'  the  side  >  in  a  fenf)  mi^iiles^  eatryiiig 
all  the  top-oMn  with  it^*  Before  the  ship  couU  '■  he 
deaored  «f  the  shattered  fragments,  wiiich  wtas  ao" 
complished  in  aboilt  an  hour,  tile  Fiench  ship  hmd 

*  Iambi  Jaritip,.  of  N«ip-York,ainidife^piiuu^^«lpin«ii)dl«i 
(ht  toain4op.  tte  was  apprized  of  his  danger  bjr  a  aearoan,  but 
hid  e^htilli  aiDapwliMi  of  tbtt^mjr  ^mtmkuifihm  btfrtpHelj; 
** If  ihf»i9Mi^oee,  we  muitgo  wit^il."  This fooa bi^pysow^ 
aiitf  oiily  bne  of  the  tten  was  lavMl. 


,f^ 


"^     ■•*»., 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


13 


effected  her  eflci^.  Her  disappearance  was  so  stid» 
den,  thtt,  the  peqile  oii  iKnrd  the  Conitelfaition  sap- 
pesed  she  had  sunk*  She  arrited  at  Ctnrracoa,  ftve 
days  alter  the  engngemeiit,  so  shattered,  that  tdl  her 
orew  were  conthittailjr  employed'  at  the  pumps  to 
keep  her  from  sinking.,  She  had  one  hundred  acd 
inxty  men  ktfted  and  wounded.  Her  captain  stated 
that  he  had  twice  struck  his  colours ;  but,  owin^  to  the 
darkness,  it  was  not  perceived  on  board  the  Constel- 
lation. Bf^eving  it  was  the  determination  of  the 
American  captain  to  sink  him,  he  renewed  the  en- 
gagement from  necessity.  The  ConsteUation  had 
thirty-nine  men  killed  ^md  wounded.  The  French 
frigate  was  the  Vengeance. 


CA^AIK  LirrLE-FRlGATE  BOSTON. 

The  United  States  frigate  Boston,  commanded  by 
oaptain  Little,  being  on  a  cruise,  to  protect  the 
American  commerce  in  the  West  Indies,  in  latitude 
22y  160,  longftode  51,  capteied,  on  tie  12th  of  Ottb- 
ber,  1800,  after  an  action  of  an«hoor  uaA  ibrty  'teiii- 
vias^  tberFiench  aational  corvette  Le  Bercean.  The 
Boston  raouBted  twenty-four  12,  and  eight  9  ponnh 
dersyfandhad  twe  hundred  ant  thirty  men,  of  Whom 
six  fwewe  ksUed,  Imd  eight  wounded.  Le  Bercea^ 
was  commanded  by  eapttdn  denes,  had  tw(liity-twi». 
9,  and  two  12  pounders,  on  one  deck,  and  two  hun* 


«•'" 
<* 


i 


u 


NATAL    BATTLKB. 


dred  and  thiity  men.  She  lost  all  her  masts,  and 
was  otherwise  much  disabled.  She  had  been  'out 
from  Cayenne  twenty-fiye  days,  during  which  she 
.  had  plundered  two  American  vessels  and  made  prize 
of  one.  On  a  former  crube  she  had  captured.  sevef> 
ral  American  vessels.  A  variety  of  circumstances 
conspired  to  render  this  capture  of  much  importance. 
Le  Berceau  was  considered  one  of  the  fastest  sailing 
corvettes  in  the  French  navy ;  she  served  as  a  look- 
out Vessel  to  the  French  fleet  for  eighteen  months, 
had  frequently  been  chased  by  British  cruisers,  but 
never  overtaken;  and  had  been  veiry  successful  in 
capturing  British,  American,  and  Portuguese  vessels ; 
and  was  bound  on  this  cruise  to  intercept  the  Ameri- 
can Indiamen,  and  South  American  ships.  Captain 
Senes  had  been  post  captain  in  the  French  navy  for 
many  years ;  was  ji  midshipman  in  count  D'Estsuiig^s 
fleet  in  the  revolutionary  war ;  and  was  esteemed  a 
brave  and.  intelligent  officer.  Le  Berceau  lost  in 
the  engagement  her  first  lieutenant,  master,  boat- 
swain, master-gunner,  and  pilot,  besides  a  number  of 
seamen.  Captain  Senes,  and  a  commissidnei,  who 
was  in  Le  Berceau,  after  being  in  the  Boston  fifteen 
days,  were,  at  their  request,  permitted  to  go  to  Bar- 
badoes,  on  their  parole. 

The  Boston  expended  upwards  of  27  cwt.  of  pow- 
der, upwards  of  1500  round  shot,  besides  double  that 
number  of  chain,  doAl^-headed,  and  grape,  during 
the  actiop.  Captain  Little  arrived,  with  his  priz^t 
at  Boston,  the  14th  of  November.' 


%. 


MAYAL    BATTLES. 

CAPTAIN  STEBRSTT. 


16 


.  In  the  month  of  August,  1801,  Captain  Sterrett, 
qommaniler  of  the  United  States  schooner  Enter- 
prise, of  twelve  guns,  and  ninety  men,  fell  in,  off 
Malta,  with  a  Tripolitan  cruiser  of  fourteen  guns  and 
eighty-five  men.  A  desperate  conflict  ensued,  and 
had  continued  for  nearly  two  hours,  when  the  Tri- 
politan ^auled  down  her  colours.  The  crew  of  the 
Enterprize  left  their  guns,  and  gave  three  cheers  for 
the  victory.  Upon  this,  the  crmser  poured  a  broadside 
into  the  Enterpize,  hoisted  her  colours,  and  renew- 
ed, the  action  with  redoubled  vigour.  Her  crew, 
brandishing  their  sabres,  continually  attempted  to 
bcMurii.  They  were  again  overcome  by  the  skilful 
crew  of  the  Enterprize,  and  struck  a  second  time. 
Captain  Sterrett  then  ordered  the  cruiser  under  his 
quarter,  and  kept  his  men  at  the  guhs.  B  ut  the  Tripo- 
litan  had  no  sooner  come  to  the  position  she  was  order- 
ed,  than  she  renewed  the  action  the  third  time,  by 
'  pouring  a  broadside  into  the  Enterprize.  The  Tripo- 
Utans  hoisted  their  bloody  flag,  and  attempted  to  board. 
A  he  indignant  cry  of  ^*  Fight  on,  and  sink  the  per- 
fidious  villains  to  the  bottom,"  was  now  heard  from 
every  part  of  the  American  schooner.  Every  effort 
was  made  by  Capt^n  Sterrett  to  ensure  a  complete 
victory.  '  His '  superior  skill  in  the  management  of 
^his  tessel  enabled^him  to  rd^  the  corsair,  fore  and 
aft;  A. number  of  sh§t  between  wind  and  water, 
opened  her  sides  for  the  sea  to  pour  in.  Fifty  of  her 
men  were  killed  and  wounded.    Her  treacherous 


1^.  JfkrAh    BATVLB0.         ^ 

commander,  perceiv!ui|the  deitraotion  of  his  vessel 
and  crew  inevitable)  implored  for  quarters.  Bending 
in  a  supplicating  posture  over  the  Waste  of  Ills  ves> 
sel,  he  threw  h^  colours  into  th^  sea,  t6  dofti^cie  the 
American  captain  that  he  Would  no  more  attempt  t6 
resist.  Captain  Sterrett,  actuated  hy  the  Sentiment 
of  tme  bravely,  stopped  the  effusion  of  blood,  thonj^ 
the  treacherous  conduct  of  the  Tripblitans  merited  no 
mercy.  His  mstructions  not  permitting  hittiMo  maikd 
a  prize  of  the  cruiser,  he  ordered  her  crew  to  throw 
overboard  all  their  guns,  swards,  pistols,  ammunitioh, 
&c.  and  then  to  go  and  tell  their  cotintrymen  the  treat- 
ment they  might  expect  .from  a  nation,  detennided 
to  pay  tribute  onily  in  powder  and  ball. 
#  The  Enterprise,  in  this  engagement  of  three  hoiffs, 
did^t  losfe  a  man.  Captain  Sterrett,  after  pajriiig 
every  attention  to  (he  wounded  Tripolitans,  ordered 
the  cruiser- to  be  dismantled.  Her  masts  were  cut 
lown.  A  spar  was  raised,  to  which  was  hung  a  tat- 
tered siiil,  as  a  ^ag.  In  this  condition  she  was  sent 
to  Tripoli.  CHi  her  arrival  there;  ^e  iiiciflgiiation^ 
excited  by  her  defeat,  was  so  great,  that  the  bashaw 
ordered  di^  wounded  captain  to  be  mounted  on  a 
jack-ass,  and  paraded  through  the  streets  as  an  ob- 
ject of  public  scorn ;  and  then  -to  receive  five  hun- 
dred bastinadoes. '  The  T#|lp6Iitans  were  so.  terrified 
at  this  event,  that  the  sailors  abandoned  the  cnl^rs 
then  iitting  9ut.  Not#  man  coiii^  be  proi^d  tb 
navigate  them.*  **'  • 


•  Hittory  of  tfie  war  betwMn  the  XJtAeA  Siates  and  Tripeli 

p.  91.  ;      :   '  ^  '    ,    .  , 


'■*■ 


f 


NAVAL    BATTLEB. 


17 


.'^'^'    T.''i  \i^-j/--  i-fi.'i-- 


.  fiiiv'*,^?'-.**' 


SCHOONER  EXPBRIMENT.-LIEUT.  STEWARt. 


In  July,  1 800,  lieutenant  Charles  Stewart  was  ap- 
.  pointed  to  the  command  of  the  Experiment,  of  twelve 
guns,  and  ordered  to  cruise  in  the  West  Indies.  He 
arrivedon  that  station  the  first  of  September,  and  the 
same  night  fell  ui  with  the  French  schooner  Deux 
,  Amis,  of  eight  guns,  which  he  engaged  and  captur- 
ed, without  any  loss,  after  an  action  of  ten  minutes. 
I  !  Soon  after,  while  cruisipg  near  the  island  of  Bar- 
buda, he  discovered  a  brig  of  war,  and  a  three-masted 
schooner,  standing  for  the  Experiment,  und^riii  press' 
of  sail,  and  displa^^g  English  colours.  The  %|>er- 
iment  was  hove  to,  and  the  British  signal  of  the  dajf 
was  made,  which  not  being  answered  by  the  stiai||6^ 
vessels  by  the  time  they  were  within  gun^-shot^i 
signal  was  hauled  down,  and  the  Experimentri 
away  with''all  sail  set.  A  chase  was  now  commtl 
by  the  enemy,  and  continped  for  about  ;ti^^hcmrs ; 
when  finding  they  were  outsaifed  by  the  Experiment, 
they  relinquished  the  pursuit,  and  boreanvay  under 
easy  sail,  firing  a  gup  to  windward,  and  hoisting 
French  colmirs.  Ldeutetttt  Stewart  now  manoeuvred 
his  schooner  so  as  to  bring  her  in  the  enemy's  wake 
to  wiiMward,  whin  a  chas##as  made  on  his  pan, 
*  which  continued  the  whole  day  before  the  wind,  each 

vessel  crowding  all  her  canvass.     At  eight  o'clock 

./m^:.:  ^  ■■■«    -        ■ 


18 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


\ 


■^ 


at  night,  the  Experiment  closed  with  the  three-mast 
ed  schooner,  which  was  th^  stemmost  of  the  hostile 
veiipU;  and  having  taken  a  position  on  her  lai*- 
beard-quarter,  opened  a  fire  upon  her  from  the  great 
guns  and.  small  arms,  which  in  about  five  minutes, 
compelled  her  to  strike.  She  was  immediately  ta- 
ken possession  of,  and  proved  to  be  the  French 
schooner  of  war  Diana,  of  fourteen  guns  and  sixty- 

ive  men,  commanded  by  M.  Peraudeau,  lieutenant 
de/^a^seau.  The  detention  occasioned  by  removing 
the  prisoners,  enabled  the  brig  of  war  to  escape. 
She  mount04i,^  was  afterwards  learned,  eighteen 
guns,  and  had  a  crew  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
men.  The  Experiment  proceeded  to  St.  Christo- 
pher's i^ith  her  prize.  C     c? 

C^the  14th  of  'December^  she  fell  in  with  the 
privateer  Flambeau,  of  sixteen  guns  and  ninety  meii,« 
%lih^  a  prize  brig,  steering  for,  Marigalante.    The 

'eeie  being  light  and  the  enemy  to  windward,  it 
'i|pii»  late  in  the  afternoon  before  there  was  any  pros- 
p^i(iti|of  dosing  with  him.  Notwithstanding  all  the 
exertions  of.  the  Experiment,  the.  Flambeau  escaped 
in  shor^ ;  but  her  prize  was  retaken.  This  vessel 
proved  to  be  the  Zebra  of  and  from  Baltimore,  laden 
wi^  flour.  During  the  remainder  of  this  cruise, 
the  Experiment  recapturec^gifveral  American  vessels 
sometimes  as  many  as  two  or  three  in  a  day,  and 
thus  rescued  Americangproperty  to  a  consi^isnible 
amount. 


AVAL  lATTUCS. 


19 


OPERATIONS  IN  THE  MEDITERRAltE^, 

'A»' every  incident  and  anecdote  coAnected'^ith 
the  Tripolitan  war  has  become  extremely  intereMJr 
ing  to  the  publick,  we  trust  that  the  following  cir- 
cumstantial, though  very  imperfect,  narrative  of  thA 
operations  of  the  squadron  under  .Commod6|UB 
Prebli^,  will  be  read  with  satisfaction.  j 

The  Tripolitan  cruisers  continuing  to  harass  (be 
vessels  of  the  United  States,  Congresf  determined, 
in  1803,  to  act  with  greater  vig<^  jgfonst  them, 
and  to  fit  out  a  fleet  that  should  no#^y  repel  their 
unprovoked  aggression,  but  also  chastise  their  in- 
solence. The  squadron  consisted  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, 44  guns;  the  Philadelphia,  44;  the J^mUf 
18;  the  Syren,  16;  the  Nautilus,  16;  the  Vixen, 
16;  and  the  £nterprize,  H*  Commodore  Preble 
was  ap^inted  to  the  command  of  tiiis  squadrfm*  in 
May,  1803i^^  ^^  . 

On  the  tlurteenth  of  August,  commodore  Preble 
sailed  in  the  Constitution  for  the  Mediterranean. 
On  his  passage  he  brought  to  %  Moorish  frigate, 
which  he  suspected  had  been  authorized  to 
ag^st  American  vessels;  but  her  papers  not 
porting  such  a  suspicion,  he  dismissed  her.  W 
he  arrived  at  {Gibraltar,  he  found  that  our  afiiiirs  wii 
Morocfio  had  sasomed  a  vei||  disagreeable  anpeet 

Captun  William  Bainbridge,  commanding  the  fri- 
gate Philadelphia,  had  sailed  in  July ;  and,  on  the 


■*^' 


V   I 


t 

twenty-sixth  of  August,  had  captured  the  Moorish 
ship  Mirboha,  of  twenty-two  guns,  and  one  hundred 
adii|teti  men.  An  order  to  cruise  for  American  ves- 
sels was  diseorered  among  her  papers.  There  was 
*M  signature  to  this  order.  The  eaptaipi  said  it  was 
delifered  to  him  sealed,  hy  the  Moorish  governoui 
of  Tangiers,  who  ordered  him  not  to  open  it  until  at 
sea.  By  the  authority  of  this  order  he  had  captured 
_  1^  American  brig  CeUa,  then  in  company.  In  May, 
ciptain  Rodgers  had  detained  a  vessel,  under  Moor- 
ish colours,  attempting  to  enter  Tripoli,  then  actually 
blockaded  by  him.  On  board  of  her  were  font  guns* 
and  other  contraband  articles^  The.  emperour  denied 
having  authorized  the  latter ;  and  4he  gpvernour  of 
Tangiers  disavowed  havuig  giv^n  any  orders  to  cruise  * 
for^mericans  to  the  fonener*  Commodore  Preble* 
the  day  after  his  arrival,  wroite  to  the  Aiperic^n  con- 
aril  at  Tangiers,  that  peace  with  the  emperour  of 
Moi|)cco  was  desiraUe ;  that  su9ce  he  disavowed  the 
acts  of  hostility,  committed  by  his  spbjectjs,  he  should 
pmi^  as  pirate|  aU  IfooM^  crm^  to 

ca^fiture  AmbricaiiiTe«9elfw* 
CSommodore  RodgerSv  who,  with  iJj^KewYQj^ 

John  Adams,  frig»$?8,  wai  unite  prdws  t^^       . 
to  the  United  StAtes,  iK)]w«9tf4  tO  rieipaiii^  ji  fi^w 
/ft  on  the  station,  and  to  fmf^  wltii  jpojumodpre 
rebb  to  Tangier  liy»  ,U^  ei^t  jMl  ^^Mii|  gf 
existing  differiiniop^  '^ 
Oa  the  seventeenthof  Afl«p»t,,«iiiwif>daw  Jt^blQ 

■ppMred  in  Tmim  ii!«f^  ^  Nifil^^««^ 

•  Port  Folio,  vol.  iii.  p.  961. 


\- 


HATA-L    BATTLE!. 


21 


ill  token  of  peace.  The  Americui  ceasul  wai  mat 
permitted  to  go  en  board.  Two  lemiDelB  wen 
placed  at  Us  door. 

About  thiB  time  mnotlier  act  of  hostility  was  com- 
■littedl  at  Mogadofe.  It  was  an  order  gives  to 
<letain  all  Ameridan  vessels.  The  brig  Hamiah,  of 
Salem,  was  actaaUy  seixed. 

Thb  determined  tiie  eommodora  to  take  a  a^ore 
decided  course.  He  ordered  his  sq^uadron  to  bring 
m  att  Moorish  vessola  for  examination.  He  despatch- 
ed vessels  to  ehiise  off  Mogadore,  Salec,  £araoh 
aad  TeUmn,  while  be  Unself  entered  the  bay  of 
Tangiers  from  time  to  time.  Tho  Philadelphia  and 
Vixens  w«re  ordered  to  lie  befoier  Tripoli. 

Ob  the  5th  of  Oetobet ,  when  the  emperaar  of  Mo- 
MNooo  was  expected  at  Tangiers,  commodore  PreMe 
andtaoied  tine  Gonatitationi  and  Naotihu  in  the  bay, 
wkhin  haif  a  aaile  of  the  circular  battery.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  ^th,  he  was  joined  by  the  frigates 
Bfow  York^and  John  Adams.  Tlie  ahips  weso  con- 
atantiy  kapt  dear  <Sai  aelion,  and  t^  men  night  and 
4)ay  m^lkeig  quavters.  The  «mpili|[i!nT  arrived  on  ^e 
dih,  wiA  fl  gnsot'  bocty  of  imopa,  who  encamped  on 
«hn^  lienefa  opposite  ttio  Amoricao  vqnadron.  Tlte 
oniniiodoae  ai^otpd  rdi^  with  twenty^ene 

gniit  Wii^<t^«*e  M  an  effialnmaiber  fro^; 

the  faiB^;tk:^faemm::tiS  Modta, isbaep,  and 
wan  aist  tO;  the  AsMiibaa  iquaiMn^  asa  tofeei- 
iha  eiin»vt»it%^gai4<i^   ^n^tho  Sth,ftfae<eooperod||: 
fU^hoi^jMlgofjfm^^amM  ;to  idMt  beachlfiv 


vSF^I^. 


■'tA 


[f 


:V  f*  :  ■  -*■■ «' 


*-A.' 


• 


'a 


22 


NArAL    BAtTLIS. 


,^  y 


the  purpose  of  riewing  the  American  tquadroD.  The 
ConititutioD  again  complimented  him  with  twentj- 
ooe  gtms,  with  which  he  was  much  gratified. 

The  next  day  the  American  consul  informed  the 
commodore  that  the  emperour  had  given  orden  for 
the  American  hrig,  detained  &t  M'ogadore,  to  be  re- 
leased; and  that  he  would  give  audience  to  the 
American  commodore  and  consul  on  the  following 
Monday. 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  commodore,  atco^npti'' 
nied  by  four  persons,  went  on  shdire.  He  ^ytdeted 
the  officer,  commanding  the  squadron  dun n^  his  ab- 
sence,  to  fire  upon  the  town,  if  he  should  be  forci- 
bly detained ;  and  not  to  enter'  iuto  any  treaty  for 
his  release,  nor  be  influenced  by  any  considerations 
for  his  personal  safety.  When  arrived  af  the  castle, 
they  were  conducted  through  a  double  file  of  .soldiers' 
to  dib  empe^ur.  The  commodore,  on  enteringy  was' 
requested  to  put  away  his^ide  arms ;  with  this  he 
declined  complying;  and  wab  permitted  to  retain 
them.  The  emperour  expressed  much  sorrow  and 
regret  that  any  d^erence  had  arisen ;  for  it  was  his 
desire  to  be  at  peace  with  the  United  States.  He 
denied  having  given  any  hostile  orders ;  promised  to 
restore  all  American  vessels  and  property,  detained 
,;  by  the  awthority  of  ally  j;  l.&'f;;ovehiour^;  lind  ''e- 
tiiewed  and  confirmed  th  r't^j  iade  witii  the  Uni- 
t^  States  in  1786.  The  comibodOre  and  consul,  on 
the  pwrt  of  ^e  United  States,  promised  that  the  ve»- 
•els  and  "imttij  belongii^  to  the  emplrcHir,  should 


••     * 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


2S 


be  restored ;  and  the  orders  for  capturing  them  r«- 
Toked.  « 

Comr  }ndore  Prfhle  was  now  at  liberty  to  direct 
his  whole  att/  ntion  to  Tripoli.     The  season  was, 
'  however,  too  far  advanced  for  active  operations. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  the  Philadelphia,  beini^ 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  about  five  leagues  to 
the  westward  of  Tripoli,  discovered  a  sail  in  shore, 
standing  before  the  wind  to  the  eastward.  T^ 
Philadelphia  immediately  gave  chase.  The  sai' 
hoisted  Tripolitan  colours,  and  continued  her  course 
near  the  shore.  The  Philadelphia  opened  b  fire 
upon  her,  and  continued  it,  till  half  past  eleven ; 
when,  being  in  seven  fathoms  water,  and  finding  her 
fire  could  not  prevent  the  vessel  entering  Tripoli,  she 
gave  up  the  pursuit.  In  beating  off,  she  ran  on  a 
rock,  not  laid  down  in  any  chart,  distant  four  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  town.  A  boat  was  immediately 
lowered  to  soUnd.  The  greatest  depth  of  water  was 
found  to  be  astern. .  In^mrder  to  back  her  off,  all  sails 
were  then  laid  aback ;  the  top-g^llant-sails  loosened; 
three  anchors  thrown  away  from  the  bows;  the  water 
in  the  hold  started;  and  all  the  guns  thrown  over- 
board, excepting  a  few  abaft  to  defend  the  ship 
against  the  attacks  of  the  Tripolitan  gun-boats,  ,then 
firing  at  h^r.  All  this,  however,  proyed  ineffectosil; 
as  did  also  the  attempt  to  lighten  her  forwjird  by  cu$r. 
ting  away  her  foremast.  'iPhe  Philadelphjii  ^^ 
T^ac(y  withstood  the  a^tac^  of  t)h,e  pmnerous  gun^l 
for  fqjii  hoi^f  when  a  large  remforQemejit  jg^]p||f;'^^ 
fiut  pf  Tripoli,  and  being  herself  dep^^ed  of  fT«i/ 


■t 


24- 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


L^^^ 


■% 


4    <. 


'wFM 


«■ , 


means  of  resistance,  and'  defence,  she  was  forced  to 
strike,  about  sunsetf  The  Tripolitans  immediately 
took  possession  of  her,  and  made  prisoners  of  the 
officers  and  men,  in  number  three  hundred.  Forty- 
eight  hours  afterwards,  the  wind  blowing  in  shore, 
^e  Tripolitans  got  the  fHgate  off,  and  towed  her  into 
the  harbour. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  commodore  Preble 
sailed  from  Malta,  in  company  with  the  Enterprize, 
commanded  by  lieutenant  Stephen  Decatur.  On 
the  23d,  the  latter  captured  a  ketch  in  sight  of 
Tripoli;  which' ^lace  she  had  left  the  preceding 
night,  bound  to  Bengaza.  She  was  under  Turkish 
colours,  and  was  navigated  by  Turks  and  Greeks. 
On  board  of  her  were  two  Tripolitan  officers  of  dis- 
tinction, a  number  of  Tripolitan  soldiers,  and  about 
forty  blacks  belonging  to  the  bashaw  and  his  sub- 
jects. The  commodore  had  at  first  determined  to 
release  the  vessel  and  mei^laiiped  by  the  Turkish 
captain:  and  only  detaiiPthe  Tripolitans,  about 
sixty  in  number,  as  prisoners.  But  before  this  de- 
termination could  be  put  in  execution,  he  ascertain- 
ed, that  this  same  captain  had  been  very  active  in 
assisting  to  take  the  Philadelphia.  He  had,  on  that 
occasion,  received  on  board  his  vessel  one  hundred 
armed  Tripolitans;  had  changed  his  own  colours 
\ibr  that  of  the  enemv^  had  attacked  the  frigate; 
and,  when  she  was  boarded,  had  plundered  the  offi- 
cers. This  determined  the  'commodore  to  retain 
<the  vessel.  As  she  was  in  no  condition  to  be  sent 
to  the  United  States,  he  fdrtvarded  her  papers  to 


.  V 


IfAYAL    BATTLE9. 


25 


governmenl.      Soon  after    he   had   her  appraised; 
and  took  her  into  the  service  aji  the  ketch  intrepid. 

When  lieutenant  Decatur  was  informed  of  the  loss 
ijf  the  Philadelphia,  he  immediately  formed  a  plan 
of  recapturing  and  destroying  her,  which  he  proposed 
to  commodore  Preble.  At  first  the  commodoi;^ 
thought  the  projected  enterprise  too  hazardous ;  but 
at  length  granted  his  consent.  Lieutenant  Decatur 
then  selected  for  the  enterprise  the  ketch  Intrepid, 
lately  captured  by  him.  This  vessel  he  manned  with 
seventy  volunteers,  chiefly  of  his  own  crew ;  and  on 
the  third  of  February  sailed  from  ^ftK;use,  accompa- 
nied by  the  brig  Siren,  lieutenant  Stewart.  The 
Siren  was  to  aid  the  boats ;  and,  in  case  it  should 
be  deemed  expedient  to  use  the  Intrepid  as  a  fire 
ship,  to  receive  her  crew.  , 

After  a  tempestuous  passage  of  fifteen  days,  the  two 
vessels  arrived  off  the  harbour  of  Tripoli,  towards 
the  close  <|l^  dl^y-^h^H^determined  that  at  ten 
o'clock  in  the  e^BbingHP^trepid  should  enter  the 
harbour,  accompanied   by  the  boats  of  the  Siren., 
But  a  change  of  wind  had  separated  the  two  vessels 
six  or  eight  miles.    As  delay  might  prove  fatal,  lieu-^ 
tenant  Decatur  entered  the  harbour  alone  about  eight  4 
o'clock.     The  Philadelphia  lay .4^^  half  gun  sho 
of  the  Bashaw's  c^tle  andprpic^al  battery.     On 
her  starboard  quartenay  two  If  qKilitan  cniisei»with-« 
in  two  cables  length;  and  oii«the  starboard  ^wa 
number  of  gun-boats  1!^fthinJbi|f  gun-shot.     All^lipE 
guns  were  mounted  and  loaded    Three  hours  weif^ . 
in  consequence  of  thMigyii|ss  of  the  wind»  coil-^ 

4       ■  -       jmig^:..  *Wk^r^ 


■''  / 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


samed  in  passing  three  miles,  when,  being  within 
two  hundred  yards^of  the  Philadelphia,  they  were 
hailed  from  her,  and  ordered  to  anchor  on  peril  of  b»- 
ing  fired  into.  The  pilot  en  board  the  Intrepid  waf 
ordered  to  reply,  that  all  their  anchors  Wtife  lost. 
Jhe  Americans  had  advanced  within  fifty  yards  of 
tiie  frigate,  when  the  wind  died  away  into  a  calm. 
Lieutenant  Decatur  ordered  a  rope  to  be  taken  out 
dnd  fastened  to  the  fore  chains  of  the  frigate,  which 
was  done,  and  the  Intrepid  was  ivarped  along  side. 
it  was  not  till  then  the  Tripolitans  suspected  them 
to  be  an  enemy*;  %nd  their  confusion  in  consequence 
was  great.  As  soon  as  the  vessels  was  sufficiently 
near,  lieutenant  Decatur  sprang  on  board  the  frigate, 
and  was  followed  by  midshipman  Morris.*  It  was  a 
minute  before  the  remainder  of  the  crew  Succeeded 
in  mounting  after  them.  But  the  Turks,  crowded 
together  on  the  quarter  deck,  were  in  too  great  con- 
sternation to  take  advar^fi^f  t|^s  ddl^y.  As  soon 
as  a  sufficient  number  cf  ''^Kricails  gained  the  deck 

ilhey  tttshed  upon  the  Tripolitttns ;  who  ivete  sOMi 
oVerpowered;  and  about  t^nty  of  them  ^Mfcto  kMi- 
^.    After  taking  {Wtosession  of  the  ship,  a  firing'  com- 

^iieiiced  from  the  Tri]^itan  batteries  attd  castle,  aAd 
fiotn  two  corsairs'near  the  firigate ;  "a  nilttifoer  of  lailn- 
ehes  were  also  leeir  rowing  a^t  in  the 'harbour ; 

•^wherettpom  lieuteiMint  'Dectfttur'  r esblved  to  li^niain  iki 
Aeftigate,f6r  there  he^WMld  be  enabled  to'make  the 
best  defence.  Bat  p^eiving^hat  the  launcheai  ke]^ 
at  «'diitniii6e,  hebrdeMfhe  fi^te  to  be  set  «ta^fiyt» 


<>  Koir  Qii>ti&  Morrif. 


my — 


>* 


h 


.-*'  / 


NATAL    BATTLEI. 


«T 


which  was  immediately  done,  and  so  effectually,  that 
with  difficulty  was  the  Intrepid  preserred.  A  ftivour- 
able  breeze  at  this  moment  sprung  up,  which  soon 
carried  them  out  of  the  harbour.  None  of  the  Amer- 
icans were  killed,  and  only  four  wounded.  For  this 
heroick  achievement  lieutenant  Decatur  was  promot- 
ed to  the  rank  of  post  captain.  His  commission 
was  dated  on  the  day  he  destroyed  the  Philadelphia. 
»'  After  the '  destruction  of  the  Philadelphia  firigate, 
commodore  Preble  was,  during  the  spring  and  early 
part  of  the  summer,  employed  in  keeping  up  th^ 
blockade  of  the  harbour  of  Tripoli,  in  preparing  for 
an  attack  upon  the  town,  and  in  cruising.  A  prize 
that  had  been  taken  was  put  in  commissiop,  sind  o^l* 
ed  the  Scourge.  A  loan  of  six  gun-bpats  and  two 
bomb-vessels,  completely  fitted  for  service,  wa^  ^\h 
tained  from  the  king  of  Naples.  Permission  w^ 
also  given  to  take  twelve  or  fifteen  Ne^polit^  g^ 
board  each  boat,  tq  sem  under  the  American  flag. 

With  this  addition  tjMis  force,  the  commodore,  opi 
the  21st  of  July,  joined  the  vessels  off  Tripoli  I^is 
squadron  then  consisted  of  the 

Frigate    Constitution,    44  guns,  24  pounders.  . 


■m 


Brig         Argus, 

18 

24 

Syren, 

18 

jJ4s 

Scourge, 

Schooner  Vixen, 

16 

6 

Nautilus, 

16 

6 

Enterprize, 

12 

6 

Besides  six  gun-boats,  carrying  each  a  iwentj-rix 
brass  pounder,  aud  two  bomb-ketches,  carrying  leacli 


'4 


r 


28 


NAYAL   BATTLES. 


n 


\ 


a  thirteen' inch  mortar.  The  number  of  men  engag- 
ed in  the  service  amounted  to  one  thousand  and  sixty.'' 
"'  On  the  Tripolitan  castle  and  batteries,  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  guns  were  mounted :  fifty-five  of  which 
were  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance ;  the  others  long 
eighteen  and  twelve  pounders.  In  the  harbour  were 
nineteen  gun-boats,  carrying  each  a  long  brass  eigh- 

*  teen  or  twenty-four  pouLuer  in  the  bow,  and  two 
howitzers  abaft:  also  two  schooners  of  eight  guns 

'  each,  a  brig  of  ten^  and  two  galleys,  of  four  guns 
each.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  Turkish  garrison, 
and  the  crews  of  the  armed  vessels„estimated  at  three 
thousand,  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  Arabs  had 
been  a,ssembled  for  the  defence  of  the  city. 

The  weather  prevented  the  squadron  from  ap- 
proaching the  city  until  the  28th,  when  it  anchored 
within  two  miles  and  a  half  of  the  fortifications  ;  but 
the  wind  suddenly  shifting,  and  increasing  to  a  gale, 
the  commodore  was  compelled  to  return.  On  the 
3d  of  August,  he  again  approached  to  within  twa  or 
three  miles  of  the  batteries.  Havana  observed  that  sev- 
eral, of  the  enemy's  boats  were  stationed  without  the 
reef  of  rocks,  covering  the  entrance  of  the  harbour, 
he  resolved  to  take  advantage  of  this  circumstance. 
He  made  signal  for  the  squadron  to  come  within 
speaking  distance,  to  communicate  to  the  several 
commanders  his  intention  of  attacking  the  shipping 
and  batteries.  The  gun-boats  and  bomb-ketches 
were  immediately  manned,  and  prepared  for  ac- 
tion. The  former  were  arranged  in  two  divisions 
of  three  each.    The  first  divison  was  under  the  com- 


i 


*  < 


KAVAI.   BATTL£8. 

•  -  ~j.  i  •         ■  - 

mand  of  captain  Somers,  on  board  the  boat  No.  1 ; 
lieutenant  James  Decatur  commanded  the  boat  No. 
2 ;  and  lieutenant  Blake,  No.  3.  The  second  divi- 
sion was  commanded  by  captain  DeCatur,  in  No.  4 ; 
lieutenant  Bainbridge  commanded  No.  5  ;  and  lieu- 
tenant Trippe  No.  6.  The  two  bomb-ketches  were 
commanded,  the  one  by  lieutenant  commandant 
Dent ;  the  other  by  Mr.  Robinson,  first  lieutenant 
of  the  commodore's  ship.  At  half  past  one,  the 
squadron  stood  in  for  the  batteries.  At.  two,  the 
gun-boats  were  cast  off.  At  half  past  two,  signal 
was  made  for  the  bomb-ketches  and  gun-boats  to 
advance  and  attack.  At  three  quarters  past  two, 
the  signal  was  given  for  a  general  action.  It  com- 
menced by  the  bomb-ketches  throwing  shells  into  the 
town.  A  tremendous  fire  immediately  commenced 
from  the  enemies  batteries  and  vessels,  of  at  least 
two  hundred  guns.  It  was  immediately  returned  b}' 
the  American  squadron,  now  within  musket-shot  oi' 
the  principal  batteries.' 

4  At  this  moment,  captain  Decatur,  with  the  thfee 
gun-boats  under  his  command,  attacked  the  enemy's 
eastern  division,  consisting  of  nine  gun-boats.  He 
was  soon  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  fire  oC  the 
cannon  and  musketry  was  immediately  changed  to  a 
desperate  attack  with  bayonet,  spear,  sabre,  &c. 
Captain  Decatur  having  grappled  a  Tripolitan  boat, 
and  boarded  her  with  only  fifteen  Americans ;  in  ten 
minutes  her  decks  were  cleared,  and  she  was  cap- 
tured. Three  Americans  were  wounded.  At  this 
moment  captain  Decatur  was  informed  thai  the  gyn- 


30 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


^^ 


M. 


boat  commanded  by  his  broker,  had  engaged  and 
captured  a  boat  belonging  to  the  enemy ;  but  that 
his  brother,  as  he  was  8t;ppping  on  board,  was 
treacherously  shot  by  the  Tripolitan  commander, 
who  made  off  with  his  boat.  Captain  Decatur  im- 
mediately pursued  the  murderer,  who  was  retreat- 
ing within  the  lines ;  having  succeeded  in  coming 
along  side,  he  boarded  with  only  eleven  men.  A 
doubtful  contest  of  twenty  minutes  ensued.  Deca- 
tur immediately  attacked  the  Tripolitan  commander, 
who  was  armed  with  a  spear  and  cutlass.  In  parry- 
ing the  Turk's  spear,  Decatur  broke  his  sword  close 
to  the  hilt,  and  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  right 
arm  and  breast ;  but  having  seized  the  spear  he 
closed ;  and,  after  a  violent  struggle,  both  fell^,  De- 
catur uppermost.  The  Turk  then  drew  a  dagger 
from  his  belt ;  but  Decatur  caught  hold  of  his  arm, 
drew  a  pistol  from  his  pocket,  and  shot  him.  While 
they  were  struggling,  the  crew  of  both  vessels  rushed 
to  the  assistance  of  their  commanders.  And  so 
desperate  had  the  contest  around  them  been,  that 
it  was  with  difficulty  Decatur  could  extricate  himself 
firpm  the  l^illed  and  wounded  that  had  fallen  around 
Mlioi^*^^  In  this  affair  an  American  manifested  the  most 
lieroick  courage  and  attachment  to  his  commander. 
Decatur,  in  the  struggle,  was  attacked  in  the  rear 
by  a  Tripolitan ;  who  had  aimed  a  blow  at  his  head, 
which  must  have  proved  fatal,  had  not  this  generous*' 
minded  tar,  then  dangerously  wounded  and  deprived 
of  the  use  of  both  his  hands,  rushed  between  him  and 
the  sabre,  the  stroke  of  which  he  received  in  his  head 


•    r 


nJUVAL   lATTLKS. 


:#"' 


whereby  his  scull  was  fractured.  This  hero,  howeT* 
ersurrived,  and  now  receives  a  pension  from  his 
gratefal  country.  All  the  Americans  but  four  were 
wounded.  Captain  Decatur  brought  both  his  prizes 
safe  to  the  American  squadron. 
.Lieutenant  Trippe  boarded  one  of  the  enemy's 
large  boats,  with  only  a  midshipman,  Mr.  Jonathan 
Henly,  and  nine  men ;  his  boat  falling  off  before  any 
more  could  join  him.  He  was  thus  left  either  to  per- 
ish, or  to  conquer  thirty-six  men,  with  only  eleven, 
Though  at  first,  the  victory  seemed  doubtful,  yet,  in 
a  few  minutes,  the  Tripolitans  were  subdued  ;  fonr- 
teen  of  them  were  killed,  and  twenty-two  taken  pris- 
oners. Seven  of  these  last  were  severely  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Trippe  received  eleven  sabre  wounds, 
some  of  them  dangerous.  The  blade  of  his  swovd 
bending,  he  closed  with  his  antagonist.  Both  ML 
In  the  struggle,  Trippe  wrested  the  Turk^s  swoid 
from  him,  and,  with  it,  stabbed  him  to  the  heart. 

Lieutenant  Bainbridge  had  his  lateen  yards  shot 
•way.  This  rendered  all  his  exertions  to  get  aiong 
iide  the  enemy's  boats  of  no  effect.  But  his  hikk 
and  well  directed  fire,  within  nrasket  shot^^  did  great 
execution.  At  one  time  his  boat  grounded  within 
pistol  shot  of  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  He  was 
there  exposed  to  the  fire  of  misketry ;  bat,  by  his 
address  and  courage,  he  extricated  himicif  from/  his 
dangerous  Mtuatlon. 

Captain  Somers  was  not  able  to  get  lair  «aotigh  to 
wiadwafd,  to  co-operate  with  Deoativ.  He^how- 
efer^  bore  down  upon  the  leewafd>dif<URiof  th««»> 


^ 


NAVAL    BATTLB8. 


,r 


■\ 


emy.     With  his  single  boat,  he  attacked  five  full 
manned  Tripolitan  boats,  within  pistol  shot.     He  de- 
feated, and  drove  them  in  a  shattered  condition,  and^ 
with  the  loss  of  many  lives,  to  take  refuge  under  the 
rocks. 

The  two  bomb  vessels  kept  their  station,  and  threw 
a  great  many  shells  into  the  town.     Five  of  the  ene-^t 
my's   gun-boats,  and  two  galleys,  composing  their 
centre  division,  stationed  within  the  rocks,  being  re*i^ 
inforced,  and  all  joined  by  the  gun-boats  that  had  been 
driven  in,  twice  attempted  to  row  out  and  surround 
the  gun-boats  and  prizes  of  the  Americans.     They 
were,  however,  prevented  by  the  vigilance  of  the  com-rl 
modore,  who  made  signal  for  the  brigs  and  schooners  i^v,^ 
to  cover  them.      This  was  properly  executed  by% 
these  vessels.     Their  conduct  was  excellent  during 
the  whole  of  the  engagement,  and  they  annoyed  the 
enemy  exceedingly.      The  fire  from  the  Constitution^ 
did  considerable  execution,  and  kept  the   enemy's 
flotilla  in  constant  disorder.     She  was  several  times 
within  two  cables'  length  of  the  rocks,  and  three  of 
the  batteries.     As  soon  as  her  broadside  was  brought^ 
to  bear  on  any  of  the  batteries,  it  was  immediately^? 
silenced.      But  having  no  large   vessels  to  secure^  $ 
these  advantages,  the  fire  was  recommenced  as  soon  y^ 
as  she  changed  her  position.  ^^  ^^^ 

At  half  past  four,  the  wind  having  inclined  to  the 
northward,  and  the  enemy's  flotilla  having  retreated  ^^ 
to  a  station  which  covered  them  from  the  fire  of  the 
Americans,  signal  was  made  for  tlie  gun-boats  and 
bombs  to,  retire  from  the  action.    This  was  efiectr 


■^}i 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


53 


ed,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  the  squadron  was  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  enemy's  shot.  ^ae  squadron  was 
more  than  two  hours  within  grape  shot  distance  of 
the  enemy's  batteries,  which  kept  up  a  constant  fire. 
The  damage  sustained  by  the  Americans  was  by  no 
means  proportionate  to  the  apparent  danger.  The 
frigate  Constitution  was  struck  in  her  mainmast  by 
a  thirty-two  pound  ball,  her  sails  and  rigging  were 
considerably  cut,  and  one  of  her  quarter-deck  guns 
was  injured  by  a  round  shot ;  not  a  man,  however, 
was  killed  on  board  of  her.  The  other  vessels  suf- 
fered in  their  rigging,  and  had  several  men  wound- 
ed ;  but  none  were  killed,  excepting  lieutenant  De- 

^  catur.  On  the  part  of  the  enemy  the  effect  of  this 
engagement  was  very  different.  The  boats  cap- 
tured by  the  Americans  had  one  hundred  and  three 
men  on  board,  forty-seven  of  whom  were  killed  and 
twenty-six  wounded.  Three  other  boats  were  sunk 
with  all  the  men  on  board  of  them.  Numbers  were 
also  swept  from  the  decks  of  the  other  vessels  in  the 
harbour.  On  shore,  several  Tripolitans  were  kill- 
ed and  wounded  ;  a  number  of  guns  in  the  batteries 
were  dismounted  and  the  town  was  considerably  in- 
jured. 

When  the  squadron  was  standing  in  for  the  attack, 
the  bashaw  affected  to  despise  them.  After  having 
surveyed  them  from  his  palace,  he  said,  "  they  will 

.  mark  their  distance  for  tacking  ;  they  are  a  sdrt  of 
Jews,Vho  have  no  notion  of  fighting."  The  palace 
and  terraces  of  the  houises  were  crowded  with  spec- 
tators to  behold  the  chastisement  the  bashaw's  bdati 


-•^^« 


\l 


li  IfATAL    IIATTLE8. 

would  give  the  American  veisels  if  tliey  approach- 
ed too  near.  Momentarj,  however,  was  this  exul- 
tation. Scarcely  had  the  battle  commenced,  when 
no  one  was  to  be  seen,  except  at  the  batteries. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  jBed  to  the  country  :  and  the 
bashaw  retreated  to  his  bomb-proof  room.  " 

On  the  6th  of  August  the  commodore  prevailed  on 
a  French  privateer,  that  had  left  Tripoli  in  the 
morning,  to  return  with  eleven  wounded  TripoKtans, 
whose  wounds  had  been  carefully  dressed.  The 
commodore  also  sent  a  letter  to  the  bashaw's 
minister.  The  prisoners  informed  the  prince,  that 
the  Americans  in  battle  where  6circer  than  lions,  but 
in  the  treatment  of  their  prisoners,  they  were  even  ^* 
S  moie  kind  than  the  mussulmen.  The  bashaw  at 
first  misunderstood  the  motive  of  sending  these  men 
but  when  informed  that  it  was  done  through  motives 
of  humanity*  he,  professed  to  be  pleased,  and  said  that 
if  he  took  any  wounded  Americans,  he  should  in 
like  manner,  restore  them :  but  he  would  not  release 
iiuy  of  the  crew  of  the  Philadelphia.  r^ 

On  the  7th  the  privateer  returned  with  a  ktter 
from  the  French  consul,  signifying,  that  the  bilshaw 
woiild  prpbably  treat  on  more  reasonable  terms.  No- 
thing, however,  definitive  or  satisfactory  was  pro- 
pioved.  The  terms  intimated  were  considerably  hi^h^^ 
«r  than  the  cemmodore  felt  willing,  or  though^  himself 
authorized  to  accept.  He  therefore  prepared  for  a^. 
aecovid  attack;  The  bomb-ketches,  cooraiandlBd  by 
lieutemnvi  Crane  and  Thoni,  were  to  take  a  station 
in  «  smatt  k^  west  of  the  tow»,  wherei  without  be^ 


NATAL    BATTl  ''.t. 


ing  much  exposed,  they  might  thfow  their  ubells  vitll 
great  effect.  The  gun-boats  were  to  attack  a  /e« 
gun  battery.  The  brigs  and  schooners  were  to  su''< 
port  them,  in  case  the  enemy's  flotilla  should  ren- 
ture  out.  At  half-past  two,  the  action  commenced. 
In  the  course  of  two  hours,  six  of  the  seven  guns  in 
the  battery  were  silenced.  During  the  action,  forty 
eight  shells  and  about  five  hundred  round  shot  were 
thrown  into  the  town  and  batteries.  The  Tripolitan 
galleys  manoeuvred  to  gain  a  position  that  might  en- 
able them  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  American  gun- 
boats; but  the  large  vessels  defeated  their  design. 
One  of  the  American  prise  boats,  taken  in  the  first 
attack,  was  blown  up  by  a  red-hot  shot  from  the  bat« 
tery  passing  through  her  magazine.*  She  had  on 
board  twenty-eight  men,  ten  of  whom  were  killed) 
and  six  wounded:  among  the  former  were  James 
Caldwell,  first  lieutenant  of  the  Siren^and  J.  Dorset, 
midshipman.  Mr.  Spence,  midshipman,  and  eleven 
men,  were  taken  up  unhurt.  When  the  explosion 
took  place,  this  young  officer  was  superintending  the 
loading  of  a>gun;  having  discharged  the  [neee,  he 
with  the  survivors  jumped  ffito  the  sea.  They  were 
soon  taken  Up  by  another  boat. 

At  eight  m  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  John 
Adams,  Captain  Chauncy,  joined  the  Squadron.  By 
him  the  Commodore  was  infomied,  that  four  frigata9 
were  on  their  passage ;  also,  that  by  the  ai 
ment  of  a  senior  offieer  to  one  of  the  frigatea,  he 
would  be  superseded  in  his  command.  The  gorcni' 
ment  was  highly  satisfied  with  the  conduct  p(  the 


\  i 


..d^Va 


0 


W'  NAVAL    BATTLES. 

commodore  ;  but  had  not  a  sufficient  number  of  cap* 
tains  juniors  to  the  commodore  to  supply  all  the  fri* 
gates  with  commanders ;  nor  had  information  of  his 
brilliant  success  as  yet  reached  America. 

The  John  Adams  having  been  sent  out  as  a  tran§> 
port,  no  assistance  could,  for  the  present,  be  received 
from  her.  All  her  guns  were  stowed  by  the  kelson, 
and  their  carriages  put  away  on  board  of  the  other 
frigates.  As  these  last  were  all  to  sail  four  days 
after  the  John  Adams,  further  operations  were  sus- 
pended in  expectation  of  their  arrival.  «* 

On  the  9th,  the  commodore  reconnoitred  the  harbor, 
in  the  brig  Argus.  Next  day  a  flag  of  truce  was  seen 
flying  on  the  shore.  .  The  commodore  sent  a  boat, 
but  which,  hoVever,  was  not  permitted  to  land  her 
men.  They  returned  with  a  letter  from  the  French 
Consul.  By  it  the  commodore  was  informed  that 
the  bashaw  wfuld  accept  five  hundred  dollars  for 
the  ransom  of  each  prisoner,  and  put  an  end  to  the 
war  without  any  annuity  for  peace.  The  sum  de- 
manded amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  Thi^the  commodore  rejected; 
but  for  the  sake  of  the  cl^tives,  and  to  prevent  fur- 
ther effusion  of  blood,  he  offered  eighty  thousand 
dollars  as  ransom,  and  ten  thousand  dollars  as  pre- 
sents. The  bashaw,  however,  suspended  the  nego- 
tiations, and  said  he  would  wait  the  result  of  another 
ittack.  i\ 

On  the  night  of  the  2dd,  the  bomb-ketches  were 
sent  under  the  protection  of  the  gun-boats,  to  bom- 
bafd  the  town.    The  bombardment  commenced  at 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


a? 


two  A.  M.  and  continued  till  day-break ;  but  without 
much  effect. 

The  weather  being  favorable  on  the  27th  the  com- 
modore stood  in  for  Tripoli,  and  anchored  the  Con- 
stitution two  miles  n.  by  e.  from  fort  English.  The 
light  vessels  kept  under  way.  As  a  number  of  offi- 
cers and  seamen  of  the  Constitution  were  employed 
in  the  boat,  captain  Chauncy,  several  of  his  officers, 
and  about  seventy  seamen,  volunteered  their  servi- 
ces on  board  her. 

The  gun-boats,  accompanied  by  the  Siren,  Argus, 
Vixen,  Nautilus,  Enterprize,  and  the  boats  of  the 
squadron,  anchored  at  three  in  the  morning  within 
pistol  shot  of  the  enemy's  lines.  With  springs  on 
their  cables,  they  commenced  a  brisk  fire  on  the  ship- 
ping, town,  batteries,  and  castle.  It  was  warmly  re- 
turned from  the  enemy's  batteries.  The  boats  of  the 
squadron  remained  with  the  gun-boats  to  assist  in 
boarding  the  flotilla  in  case  it  should  come  out.  The 
brigs  and  schooners  kept  under  way,  to  harass  the  ene- 
my, and  to  support  the  gun-boats.  At  daylight,  the 
commodore,  apprehensive  that  the  ammunition  of  the 
gun-boats  might  be  nearly  expended,  weighed  an- 
chor, and  stood  in  under  the  direct  fire  of  fort  Eng- 
lish, and  of  the  castle,  crown  and  mole  batteries. 
He  made  signal  for  the  gun-boats  to  retire  from  ac- 
tion. Having  arrived  at  a  good  distance  for  firing 
at  thirteen  Tripolitan  gun-boats,  and  galleys,  en- 
gaged with  the  American  boats,  he  discharged  a 
broadside  of  round  and  grape  shot  at  them.  One  of 
them  was  sunk ;  two  were  disabled  ;  and  the  remain- 


SB 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


der  put  to  flight.  The  commodore  then  continued 
running  in  until  within  musket  shot  of  the  batteries 
He  hove  to,  fired  three  hundred  round  shot,  besides 
grape  and  canister,  into  the  bashaw's  castle,  town 
«nd  batteries.  The  castle  and  two  of  the  batteries 
were  silenced.  A  little  after  six  he  hauled  off.  The 
gun*boat8  fired  four  hundred  round  shot,  besides 
grape  and  cannister,  apparently  with  much  effect. 
The  result  of  this  attack  was  serious  on  shore.  A 
thirty-six  pound  ball  penetrated  the  castle,  and  en- 
tered the  apartment  of  the  prisoners.  Considerable 
damage  was  done  to  the  houses.  Several  lives  were 
lost.  A  boat  from  the  John  Adams,  with  a  master's 
nate  and  eight  men  on  board,  was  sank  by  a  double 
headed  shot,  which  killed  three  seamen  and  badly 
wounded  another. 

The  French  consul,  immediately  after  the  attack, 
fenowed  the  negotiations  for  peace.  They  were, 
however,  broken  off,  in  consequence,  he  thought,  of 
one  o(  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  approaching  the 
harboui:.  as  a  cartel.  This  the  bashaw  interpreted  as 
•  proof  of  discouragement  on  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. 

« On  the  Sd  of  September,  the  bomb^ketclies  being 
repaired,  and  also  the  damages  sustainMl  by  Ihe  other 
▼esseU  in  the  action  of  the  27th  of  August,  the  com- 
nodore  resolved  on  another  attack.  The  action 
commenced  between  three  and  four  o'clock,  and  soon 
beome  general.  As  the  American  gnn^boats  bore 
down,:  the  boats  and  galleys  gave  away,  and  retreat- 
ad  i:iiiider  cover  of  theauiyketry,  on  Bhore.    The 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


39 


brigs,  schooners  and  gun-boats,  pursued  as  far  as  the 
depth  of  the  water  would  permit,  and  within  mus- 
ket shot  of  fort  English.  The  action  in  this  quarter 
was  divided.  The  brigs  and  schooners,  with  one  di- 
vision of  the  gun-boats  engaged  the  fort.  The  oth- 
er division  continued  engaged  with  the  Tripolitan 
boats  and  galleys. 

The  two  bomb-ketches,  while  throwing  their 
shells  into  the  town  were  exposed  to  a  direct  fire  from 
the  bashaw's  castle,  from  the  crown,  mole,  and  sev- 
eral other  batteries.  The  commodore,  perceiving 
their  danger,  ran  his  ship  between  them  and  the  bat- 
teries, within  musket  shot.  Seventy  guns  were 
brought  to  bear  on  him  from  the  batteries.  But  he 
discharged  eleven  broadsides  with  so  much  effect, 
that  he  silenced  the  principal  batteries,  and  ii^ured 
the  others,  and  also  the  town  considerably.  The 
wind  veering  to  the  northward,  and  it  beginning  to 
blow  fresh,  the  commodore,  at  half  past  four  p.  m. 
gave  signal  to  retire  from  the  action  under  cover  of 
the  'Constitution.  Though  the  frigates  and  vessels 
were  much  damaged  in  this  engagement,  not  a  man 
was  lost. 

The  bomb-vessel,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Rob- 
inson, had  all  her  shrouds  shot  away,  and  was  so 
much  damaged  in  her  hull,  as  to  be  with  difficulty 
kept  above  water.  The  Argus  received  a  thirty- 
two  pound  ball  in  her  hull.  It  cut  away  a  lower 
cable  as  it  entered,  which  so  completely  destroyed 
its  force,  that  it  fell  upon  the  deck  without  doing 
any  injury. 


V 


40 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


I 


Commodore  Preble  had  for  some  time  contempla- 
ted sending  a  fire-ship  into  the  harbor,  in  order  to 
destroy  the  flotilla,  and  injure  the  town.  Captain 
Somers  volunteered  his  services.  He,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  lieutenants  Wadsworth  and  Israel,  fitting 
out  the  ketch  Intrepid  for  the  expedition.  One 
hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  shells  were  placed  in  the  hold.  Fusees  and 
combustibles  were  so  applied  as  not  to  endanger  a 
retreat. 

On  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  September,  captain 
Somers  chose  two  fast-rowing  boats,  in  order  to 
bring  off  the  people  after  the  vessel  should  be  set  on 
&re.  His  own  boat  was  manned  by  four  men  from 
the  Nautilus  and  six  from  the  Constitution,  with 
lieutenant  Wadsworth.  At  eight  they  parted  from 
the  squadron,  and  stood  into  the  harbour.  They 
were  convoyed  by  the  Argus,  Vixen,  and  Nautilus, 
until  arrived  within  a  short  distance  from  the  batte- 
ries. On  entering  the  inner  harbour,  and  near  the 
point  of  her  destination,  the  fire  ship  was  boarded 
and  carried  by  two  galleys  of  one  hundred  men  each. 
At  this  moment  she  exploded  with  the  most  awful 
effect.  Every  battery  was  silenced.  Not  a  gun 
was  fired  during  the  remainder  of  the  night.  There 
is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  captain  Somers,  on 
perceiving  no  means  of  escape  left,  and  that  he  shoi^ld 
inevitably  be  doomed  to  an  ignominious  captivity, 
heroically  resolved  -  to  die,  and  with  his  own  hands 
set  fire  to  the  train,  when  himself,  his  companions, 
and  the  enemy,  met  a  common  death. 


NAVAL     BAi'TLbS. 


m- 


After  this,  nothing  material  occurred  until  Sep- 
tember 9th,  when  the  long  expected  squadron,  under 
commodore  Barron,  joined  the  one  before  Tripoli. 
Here  ended  the  command  of  commodore  Preble,  so 
honourable  to  himself  and  his  country.  All  joined 
in  praising  his  distinguished  merit.  The  Pope  made 
a  publick  declaration,  that,  **  the  United  States, 
though  in  their  infancy,  had,  in  this  affair,  ddne  more 
to  humble  the  antichristian  barbarians  on  that  coast, 
than  all  the  European  States  had  done  for  a  long 
series  of  time."  Sir  Alexander  Ball,  a  distinguished 
commander  in  the  British  navy,  addressed  commo- 
dore Preble  as  follows  : — "  T  beg  to  repeat  my  con- 
gratulations on  the  services  you  have  rendered  your 
country,  and  the  hair-breadth  escapes  you  have  had  in 
setting  a  distinguished  example.  Your  bravery  and 
enterprise  are  worthy  a  great  and  rising  nation.  If 
I  were  to  offer  my  opinion,  it  should  be,  that  you 
have  done  well  not  to  purchase  a  peace  with  the 
enemy.  A  few  brave  men  have  indeed  been  sacri* 
ficed ;  but  they  could  not  have  fallen  in  a  better 
cause  ;  and  I  even  conceive  it  advisable  to  risk  more 
lives  rather  than  submit  to  terms  which  might  encour- 
age the  Barbaty  states  to  add  fresh  demands  and 
insults." 

After  the  junction  of  the  two  squadrons,  commo- 
dore Preble  obtained  leave  to  return  home.  This 
he  did  with  the  greater  pleasure,  as  it  would  give  the 
command  of  a  frigate  to  captain  Decatur.  On  hit 
r«^turn  to  the  United  States,  he  was  received  and 
treated  every  where  with  that  distinguished  atten- 
6 


42 


IfAYAL    BATTLES. 


tioDi  which  he  had  so  fully  merited.  Congress  vot- 
ed him  their  thanks,  and  requested  the  President  to 
present  him  with  an  emblematical  medal.* 


u 


■.'4 
i 

* 


RENCOUNTER  OF  THE  PRESIDENT  AND  LITTLB 

BELT. 

Pursuant  to  instructions  from  the  navy  depart- 
ment, on  the  10th  of  May,  I'^ll,  commodore  Rod- 
gers,  commanding  the  frigate  President,  sailed  from 
Annapolis  for  New  York.  On  the  16th,  about  noon 
and  within  six  leagues  from  land,  a  sail  was  discover- 
ed to  the  eastward,  standing  towards  the  President. 
The  commodore  perceived  it  to  be  a  man  of  war ; 
and  supposed  it  to  be  the  British  frigate  Guerriere, 
which  frigate,  it  was  also  supposed,  had,  a  few  days 
before,  impressed  a  boy  from  on  board  an  American 
brig,  near  Sandy  Hook.  Commodore  Rodgers, 
considering  it  his  duty  to  know  the  names  and 
character  df  all  foreign  vessels  hovering  on  the  coast 
resolved  to  speak  to  her.  He  also  hoped,  that,  if 
she  proved  to  be  the  Guerriere,  he  might  prevail  on 
her  commander  to  relinquish  the  young  man.  At 
half  past  three,  the  commodore  perceived  his  ship  lo 
be  guning  upon  the  chase,  but  the  wind  decreasing, 
he  did  not  come  up  with  her  till  it  was  too  dark  to 
discover  her  actual  force ;  nor  could  he  discover  to 
•  Clark's  NsvaI  History,  vol.  i.  p.  148— 16S: 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


what  nation  she  belonged,  as  she  declined  showing 
her  colours.  At  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  past  sev- 
en, the  chase  took  in  her  studding  sails,  and  soon 
after  hauled  up  her  courses.  She  then  hauled  by  the 
wind  on  the  starboard  tack ;  and  at  the  same  time, 
hoisted  an  ensign  or  flag  at  her  mizzen  peak.  It  was 
however,  too  dark  to  discover  what  nation  it  repre- 
sented. Her  broadside  was  now  for  the  first  time 
presented  to  view.  Though  her  appearance  indicat- 
ed a  frigate,  darkness  prevented  her  actual  force  be- 
ing ascertained. 

.^  At  twenty  minutes  past  eight,  the  President  being 
a  little  forward  of  the  weather  beam  of  the  chase, 
and  distant  between  seventy  and  a  hundred  yards 
from  her,  the  commodore  hailed,  **  What  ship  is  that?" 
To  this  no  answer  was  given ;  but  the  question  was 
repeated  from  on  board  the  chase.  After  a  short 
pause,  the  question  was  repeated  by  the  commodore 
and  immediately  a  shot  was  fired  into  the  President. 
Just  as  the  commodore  was  about  giving  orders  for 
a  shot  to  be  fired  in  return,  one  was  actually  fired 
from  the  second  division  of  the  Present.  This  was 
returned  from  the  other  vessel,  by  three  guiu  in  quick 
succession,  'and,  soon  after,  by  the  remainder  of  his 
broadside  and  musketry.  The  commodore  then  gave 
a  general  order  to 'fire.  Theifire  from' the  President 
having,  in  a  few  minutes,  produced  a  partial  jileiice 
«f  the  gans  of  the  other  vessel,  the  cummodore  gave 
ordeni  to  cease*  firing,  judging  that  she  mast  beadbipef 
f«fy '  infetiour  farce,  or  that  some  uatorivard  aechleBt 
-fad  happeiiadf  toiler.    ^&as  ooder  cmamodnre  Rodg- 


m 


Sr 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


VT3  soon  had  reason  to  regret.  The  fire  was  renewed 
from  the  other  vessel,  and  two  of  its  thirty-two  pound 
shot  cut  off  one  of  the  fore  shrouds  and  injured  the 
fore-mast  of  the  President.  He  therefore,  immedi- 
ately ordered  a  recommencement  of  the  fire.  It  con- 
tinued for  a  few  minutes,  when  the  commodore,  per- 
ceiving his  opponent's  gaff  and  colours  down,  his 
main-top-sail  yard  upon  'he  cap,  and  his  fire  silenc- 
ed, again  ordered  the  tiling  to  cease,  to  prevent  a  fur- 
ther effusion  of  blood.  After  a  short  pause,  perceiv- 
ing his  adversary  was  not  disposed  to  renew  the  ac- 
tion, the  commodore  again  hailed,  and  was  informed 
that  she  was  a  British  ship ;  but,  from  the  wind 
blowing  fresh,  he  was  unable  to  learn  her  name. 

Commodore  Rodgers,  having  informed  the  British 
commander  of  the  name  of  bis  ship,  gave  orders  to 
wear ;  to  run  under  the  lee  of  the  British  ship ;  to 
haul  by  the  wind  on  the  starboard  tack  ;  to  heaVe  to 
under  top-sails ;  and  repair  the  little  damage  that  had 
been  sustained  in  the  rigging. 

The  President  continued  lying  to  all  night  on  dif- 
ferent tacks,  with  lights  displayed,  that  the  British 
vessel  might  better  discern  her  position,  and  com- 
mand any  assistance  that  she  might  require  during 
the  night.  At  day  light  she  was  discovered  several 
miles  to  leeward.  The  commodore  gave  orders  to 
bear  up  and  run  down  to  her  under  easy  sail.  After 
hailing  her,  he  sent  a  boat  on  board,  with  lieutenant 
Creighton,  to  learn  the  name  of  the  ship  and  heir 
commander,  with  instrtictions  to  ascertain  the  damage 
fifhe^had  sustained,  and  to  state  how  much  he  regret- 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


45 


t 


ted,  on  his  part,  the  necessity  that  led  to  so  unhappy 
a  result,  and  to  offer  every  assistance  in  his  power, 
in  repairing  the  damages.  Lieutenant  Creighton, 
returned  with  information  that  the  vessel  was  his 
firitannick  majesty's  ship  Little  Belt,  captain  Bing- 
ham, of  eighteen  guns ;  and  that  the  captain  declin- 
ed accepting  any  assistance.  The  Little  Belt  had 
nine  men  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded.  No  one 
was  killed  on  board  the  President,  and  only  a  boy 
wounded. 

Captain  Bingham's  account  differs  materially  from 
the  preceding  statement.  He  denies  having  fired 
the  first  gun;  asserts  that  the  action  lasted  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  ;  and  even  intimates  that  he  had 
gained  the  advantage  in  the  contest.  Commodore 
Rodgers's  account,  from  which  the  one  -here  givea 
is  taken,  was  confirmed  by  all  his  officers  and  crew, 
on  tlieir  solemn  oath,  before  a  court  of  inquiry.  The 
court  also  confirmed  all  the  particulars  .of  his  state- 
ment, after  a  long  and  minute  investigation.* 


H 


THE  PRESIDENT  AND  BELVmERE. 

A  FORMAL  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Bri- 
tain was  passed  by  Congress  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1812,  which  was  proclaimed  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States  on  the  following  day.     On  the 
•  Glwk's  Naval  Hiatory,  fol.  L  p.  168. 


46 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


1^1  St,  Commodore  Rodgers,  having  received  official 
information  of  the  event,  set  sail  from  New  York, 
accompanied  by  the  frigates  United  States  and  Con- 
gress, and  the  brigs  Hornet  and  Argus,  in  search  of 
a  British  fleet  of  merchantmen,  which  had  sailed 
from  Jamaica  the  preceding  month.  The  following 
night  information  was  received  of  the  convoy  from 
an  American  brig,  which  had  passed  them  four  days 
before,  and  the  squadron  crowded  all  sail  in  pursuit. 
The  next  morning,  however,  their  course  was  al- 
tered by  the  appearance  of  the  British  frigate  Bel- 
videre,  to  which  the  commodore  immediately  gave 
chase.  The  pursuit  continued  from  six  in  the  morn- 
ing, till  past  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  Presi- 
dent,  having  got  within  gun-shot,  commenced  a  fire 
with  the  bow  chase  guns  at  the  spars  and  rigging  of 
the  Belvidere,  in  hopes  of  crippling  her  so  as  to  ena- 
ble them  to  get  along  side.  The  Belvidere  returned 
the  fire  of  the  President  with  her  stern  guns,  and  the 
firing  was  kept  up  without  intermission  for  about  tei. 
minutes,  when  one  of  the  President's  chase  guni» 
burst,  by  which  unfortunate  accident  sixteen  men 
were  killed  and  wounded  ;  among  the  wounded  was 
commodore  Rodgers,  who  had  his  leg  fractured.  By 
the  bursting  of  the  gun,  and  tbe  explosion  of  the 
passing  box,  from  which  it  was  served  with  powder, 
both  the  main  and  forecastle  decks  w^ris  ao  much 
ihattered  as  to  prevent  the  use  of  a  chas^^un  on  jl^t 
side  for  some  time.  Orders  were  thjeretfore  givQtt 
ho  veer  the  ship,  and  a  broadside  liras  fired  In  'tjbe 
hope  of  diflabling  the  i|mu»  of  the  eneviy ;  but  this 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


47 


did  not  succeed.  Considerable  damage,  liowever, 
was  done  to  the  rigging  and  the  stern.  The  utmost 
exertion  was  now  used  on  board  the  President,  by 
wettir^  the  sails,  &c.  to  gain  ground  of  her  oppo- 
nent ;  but  without  success.  A  constant  firing  was 
kept  up  from  both  ships,  until  about  seven  o'clock  ; 
when  the  Belvidere,  having  cut  awaj  her  anchorsi 
started  a  number  of  water  casks,  and  thrown  over- 
board her  boats  and  every  thing  that  could  be  spar- 
ed, got  out  of  the  reach  of  the  President's  shot. 
The  chase  was  continued  till  about  midnight,  when 
it  was  given  up  as  hopeless.  One 'of  the  first  shots 
fired  by  the  President  killed  one  man  and  wounded 
six  on  board  the  Belvidere  ;  and  the  captain  was  se- 
verely wounded  in  the  thigh  by  the  breaking  of  the 
breaching  of  a  carronade.  On  board  the  President 
there  were  three  killed  and  nineteen  wounded,  the 
greater  part  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun  as  above 
related. 


,->«lJi*l,', 


U»  i«it>    ittinitf 


■r""0 


■M 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


Tbe  frigate  Constitution,  conunanded  by  eaptpai 
Isaac  HuU,,lbad  t^ceived  orders  to  join  the  squadras 
(under  comiuodove  Bodgers,)  andy  Ibr  tlmt  purpose* 
sailed  from  Annapci^  on  the  6th  of  July.  Ob  the 
19th,  off  £gg  HaiiKiur,  four  Bhips»  apparently  nm* 
of  waf,  wefe  cUscovered  finom  the  mast-^head  to  ti» 


n^f^ 


' 


46 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


northward,  and  in  shore  of  the  Constitution ;  and,  in 
the  belief  that  it  was  the  American  squadron,  wait- 
ing her  arrival,  all  sail  was  made  in  chase  of  them. 
At  four  in  the  afternoon,  another  ship  was  seen  to 
the  northeast,  standing  for  the  Cons.titutipn,  with  all 
sail  set.  At  ten  in  the  evening,  being  then  within 
six  or  eight  miles  of  the  strange  sail,  the  private 
signal  was  made  by  the  Constitution;  which  not 
being  answered,  it  was  concluded  that  she,  and  the 
shipil  in  shore,  were  enemy's  vessels.  Captain  Hull 
immediately  laid'  his  vessel  in  the  same  course  with 
the  others,  having  determined  to  lie  off  till  daylight 
to  see  what  they  were.     ' 

^ext  morning,  two  frigates  were  seen  from  the 
Constitution,  under  her  lee,  one  frigate  four  or  five 
miles,  and  a  line  of  battle  ship,  a  frigate,  a  bHg  and 
a  schooner,  ten  or  twelve  miles  directly  astern,  all 
in  chase,  and  c^omiug  up 'fast,  they  having  a  fine 
breeze,  and  it  being  nearly  calm  where  the  Constitu- 
tion was.  Finding  there  was  but  little  chance  for 
escape,  i)eing  then  within  five  m^es  of  three  heavy 
frigates,  the  Constitution  was  cl^^ed  for  action,  and 
two  guns  were  run  out  at  the  calkin  windows  and 
two  at  the  po?ts  on  the  quarterdecks  At  eight 
o'clock,  four  of  the  ships  welre  niearly  withijn  gun- 
shot, some  of  them  having  six  or  eight  boat!  ahead, 
towing  with  all  their  oars  and  sweepp  out. 

In  tlus  perilous  situation  a  new  ex|tedient  was\y 
adopted,  which  was  the  means  of  sai^  the  vessel. 
Bein^  in  only  twentyi-four  fathmi^  water,  boats 
were  sent  out  ahead  with  anchors,  and  the  »^ 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


40 


•9 


A 

■  O 

fit 

m 
H 

I 

e 

.1 

► 
H 

CO 

n 
S, 


i  ^i' 


60 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


war|>ed  up  to  them,  by  which  they  soon  began  to 
get  ahead  of  the  enen^y.  They,  however,  adopted 
the  saope  plan,  and  all  the  boats  from  the  most  dis- 
tant ships  were  sent  to  assist  those  which  were  near- 
est. For  two  days  and  nights  the  Constitution  was 
thus  chased  by  the  British  squadron,  sometimes  with 
light  winds,  at  others,  warping  and  towing  in  a  calm, 
seldom  much  beyond  gun-shot  distance.  On  the 
morning  of  the  20th,  only  three  of  the  squadron^ 
could  be  seen  from  the  mast-head,  the  nearest  about 
twelve  miles  distant,  directly  astern.  A  light  breeze 
now  springing  up,  the  enemy  was  soon  left  far  be^ 
hind,  and  the  Constitution,  not  being  able  to  find  the 
Americaii  squadron,  arrived  safe  at  Boston. 

During  the  whole  of  the  chase  the  gallant  crew  of 
the  Constitution  remained  at  their  stations.  It  is  re- 
lated on  good  authority,  that  the  officers  of  the  British 
ships  expressed  their  admiration  of  the  skill  with 
which  Captain  Hull  manoeuvred  his  ship  and  effected 
hb  escape. 

But  however  brilliantly  the  nautical  knowledge 
and  professional  adroitness  of  captain  HuA  were  dis- 
played on  that  ogcasion,  his  generous  disinterested- 
ness afterwards,  is  worthy  of  universal  applause  and 
imitation.  The  pubtick  notice  taken  of  the  affair, 
and  the  praises  bestowed  on  the  commander,  induced 
him,  on  his  arrival  at  Boston,  to  insert  the  following 
card  on  the  books  of  the  Exchange  Coffee  Hense. 

tt  Captain  Hull,  finding  that  his  friends  inBoston  are 
correctly  informed  of  his  situation,  when  chafed  by 
the  British  squadron  off  New  York,  and  that  thej 


KAVAL   BATTLK8. 


M 


are  good  enough  to  give  him  more  credit  for  haring 
escaped  it  than  he  ought  to  claim,  Cakes  this  oppor- 
tunity of  requesting  them  to  transfer  their  good 
wishes  to  lieutenant  Morris  and  the  other  brave 
officers,  and  the  crew  under  his  command*  for  their 
very  great  exertions  and  prompt  attention  to  his  or- 
ders while  the  enemy  were  in  chase.  Captain  Hull 
has  great  pleasure  in  saying,  that  notwithstanding 
the  length  of  the  chase,  and  the  officers  and  crew  be- 
ing deprived  of  sleep,  and  allowed  but  little  refresh- 
ment during  the  time,  not  a  murmur  was  heard  to 
escape  them." 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  GUERRIERE. 

On  the  second  day  of  August,  the  Constitution 
again  set  sail,  pursuing  an  easterly  course.  She 
passed  near  the  coast  as  far  down  as  the  Bay  of  Fun- 
dy ;  then  ran  off  Halifax  and  Cape  Sable  ;  and  not 
seeing  any  vessels  for  some  days,  captain  Hull  steer- 
ed toward  Newfoundland,  passed  the  Isle  of  Sables, 
and  took  a  station  off  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  to 
intercept  the  Canada  trade.  While  cmismg  here,  he 
captured  two  merch  lut  vessels.  On  the  15tb,  he 
chased  a  convoy  of  iive  sail,  captured  one  of  them, 
and  prevented  the  prize  ship  of  an  American  priva- 
teer from  being  retaken.  Having  received  informa- 
tion that  the  British  squadron  were  off  the  Grand 


u 


NA^ffi    BATTLES. 


Bank,  and  not  far  distant,  he  changed  his  cruising 
ground,  and  stood  to  the  southward* . 

On  the  memorable  19th  of  August,  at  two  p.  m. 
the  Constitution  being. in  latitude,  fortj-one  degrees 
and  forty •itwo  minutes  north,  and  fiftj^five  degrees 
and  thirty-three  minutes  west  longitude,  a  vessel 
was  discovered  to  the.southward.  The  Constitution 
instantly  made  all  sail  in  chase,  and  soon  gained  on 
heir.  At  three  p.  m.  it  could  plainly  be  perceived 
she  wajs  a  ship,  on  the  starboard  tack,  under  easy 
sail,  close  hauled  to  the  wind.  At  half  TpaaC  three, 
she  was  ascertained  to  be  a  frigate.  The  Constitu- 
tion continued  the  chase.  At  about  three  miles  dis- 
tance, captain  Hull  ordered  the  light  sails  to  be  ta- 
ken in,  the  courses  to  be  hauled  Up,  and  the  ship  to 
be  cleared  for  action.  The  chase  now  backed  her 
niain-top-sail,  and  waited  for  the  Constitution  to 
'com»<j)own.  As  soon  as  the  Constitution  was  ready 
for  action,  she  bore  down,  intending  to  bring  imme- 
diately to  close  action  the  British  frigate,  which  had 
abou't  ^is  time  hoisted  three  English  ensigns  in  token 
of  defiance.  As  soon  as  the  Constitution  caime  with- 
in gun-shot,  the  British  frigate  fired  her  broadside  ; 
then  filled  away,  wore,  and  gave  a  broadside  on  the 
other  tack.  They  however,  produced  no^  effect,  her 
shot  fell  short.  The  British  frigate  manoeuvred  and 
wore  several  times  for  about  three  quarters  of  an 
hour,  in  order  to  obtain  a  raking  position.  But  not 
succeeding  in  this,  she  bore  up  under  her  top-sails 
and  jib  with  the  wind  on  the  quarter.  Captain  Hull 
immediately  made  sfiil  to  bring  his  ship  up  with  her. 


If  AVAL  BATTLES. 


6S 


o 


•4 

d 

H 

M 
O 

!4 


n 

M 

H 

H 


M 


NAVAL    BATTU8. 


At  five  minutes  before  six,  p.  m.  the  Constitution 
being  along  side,  within  pistol-shoti  he  ordered  a 
brisk  firing  to  be  commenced  from  all  her  guns,  which 
.fire^re  doubleHshotted  with  round  and  grape  shot ;  and 
80  well  dire<ited  and  so  warmly  kept  up  was  the  Amer- 
ican fife,  that,  in  fifteen  minutes,  the  mizEea-mast  of 
the  British  frigate  went  by  the.  boards  and  her  main- 
yud  ip  uer  slings.  Her  hull  was  much  injured ;  and 
lier- rigging  and  sails  torn  to  pieces.  The  fire  was 
kept  up,  in  the  same  spirited  manner,  for  fifteen  n^in- 
utes  longer,  by  the  Constitution.*  She  had  now  taken 
a  position  for  raking,  on  the  bows  of  the  British  fri- 
gate ;  when  the  lattier  could  only  bnng  her  bow  guns 
to  bear  on.  the  Constitution.  The  grape-shot  and 
small  arms  of  the  Constitution  completely  swept  the 
decks  of  the  British  frigate.  Thirty  minutes  after 
the  commencement  of  the  action  by  the  Constitution, 
the  mainmast  and  foremast  of  the  B^ish  frigate 
went  by  the  board,  taking  with  them  ey«ry  spar  ex- 
cept; the  bowsprit.  She  then  struck  her  colours, 
which  had  been  fastened  to  the  stump  of  the  mizzen- 
mast.  The  Constitution  then  set  fore  apid  main-sails, 
and  hauled  to  the  eastward  to  repair  damages.  All 
her  braces,  a  great  part  of  her  standing  and  runiung  rig- 
ging, and  some  of  her  sparse  were  shot  away.  At 
seven,  f.  m.  she  stood  under  the  lee  of  the  prize, 
and  lent  a  boat  on  board,  which  returned  at  eight 
with  e^tain  Dacres,  commander  of  the  fr%a^f  She 
was  the  Guerriere,  rating  thirty-eight^ai^  mounting 
forty-nine  guns.  The  hull  of  the  Guerriere  was  so 
much  shattered,  that  a  few  more  broadsides  would 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


66 


have  sunk  her.  She  had  fifteen  men  killed,  sixty- 
one  woimded,  and  twenty-four  missing,  who,  it  is 
presumed,  were  swept  overboard  by  the  falling  masts. 
The  Coiistitation  had  only  seven  killed,  and  seven 
wounded. 

The  boats  were  immediately  employed  in  bring- 
ing the  wounded  and  prisoners  on  board  the  Constitu- 
tion. About  two,  A.  M.  a  sail  was  discovered  off  the 
larboard  beam  standing  to  the  south.  The  ship  was 
instantly  cleared  for  action.  At  three,  the  vessel 
stood  away.  At  day-break,  information  was  received 
from  the  lieutenant  on  board  the  prize,  that  the  ship 
was  in  a  sinking  condition,  and  had  four  feet  water 
in  the  hold.  As  soon  as  all  her  crew  were  removed 
,  from  on  board  of  her,  she  was  set  on  fire,  and  blew 
up  a  quarter  past  three. 

*  Captain  Hull,  in  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the 
#  navy,  says  :—*<  that,  from  the  smallest  boy  in  the 
ship,  to  tb.'  oldest  seaman,  not  a  look  of  fear  was 
seen.  «.They  all  went  into  action  giving  three  icheers, 
and  requesting  to  be  laid  along-side  the  enemy .^'* 

In  llie  heat  of  the  engagement,  one  <ii  the  crew 
of  the  CoBslitiitaQD,  peroeifng  ifce  §ag  m  llie'lcNre- 
tofHonat  heal  had  heen  shot  awi^,  went  n^  Willi  it, 
and  \mhoi  it  so  securely^  as  to  fender  it  imjpOBsflbile  to 
shoot  It  an^ay,  unless  Hhe  mast  went  with  lit 

TkB  fBtteffooty  of  laftain  Hull  and  his  caneur  was 

equal  to  AearlaMiefy.     Captain  Dacres,  in  his  flilicial 

lettei^eMiiGeseitfieir  conduct  to  have  been  f^lSiMtflf 

a  hf mm  tmemj ;  Ike  greatest  care  beiiig  liduil  ito  ^g^ 

*  Clark's  Naval  Hiirtory,  vol.  i.  p.  17(^-176. 


'^■t%'%y 


56 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


H 
IB 
H 

n 

M 
O 

H 

U 

« 

e 


u 

M 
M 

s 

H 
& 
9 

O 
O 

mm 

H 


O 


■I*    I        ■'!■ 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


57 


vent  the  # men  losing  the  slightest  article,  and  the 
greatest  attention  being  paid  to  the  wounded." 

The  Constitution  arrived  in  Boston  harbour  the 
30th  day  of  August.  When  captain  Hull  landed, 
he  was  received  with  every  demonstration  of  affec- 
tion and  respect.  The  Washington  Artillery,  posted 
on  the  wharf,  welcomed  him  with  a  federal  salute, 
which  was  returned  from  the  Constitution.  An  im- 
mense assemblage  of  citizens  made  the  air  ring  with 
loud  and  unanimous  huzzas,  which  were  repeated 
on  his  passage  up  State  Street  to  the  Exchange  Cof- 
fee House.  The  street  was  beautifully  decorated 
with  American  flags. 

A  splendid  entertainment  was  given  to  captain 
Hull  and  his  officers  by  the  citizens  of  Boston,  at 
which  commodore  Rodgers  and  the  officers  of  his 
squadron  were  invited.  The  citizens  of  Philadel- 
phia subscribed  for  two  elegant  pieces  of  plate — one 
to  be.  presented  to  captain  Hull,  and  the  other  to 
Mr.  Charles  Morris,  his  first  lieutenant.  I^li  leeis- 
lature  of  New  York,  the  council  of  the  cities  of  Al- 
bany  and  Savannah,  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Massachusetts , 
an^M>dier  public  bodies,  voted  their  thanks  to  captain 
Him^is  officers  and  crew.  The  order  of  Cincinna 
ti  ^l^tted  him  as  an  honourary  member.  Congress 
voted  fifty  thousand  dollars  as  an  indemnification  to 
the  captain,  officers,  and  crew,  for  the  loss  sustained 
by  the  destruction  of  the  Guerriere. 


8 


(» 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


%'. 


CAPT.  PORTER.— FIRST  CRUISE  OF  THE  ESSEX. 


8 


The  Essex,  commanded  by  captain  David  Porter, 
sailed  from  New  York  the  third  of  Julj,  1812,  and 
shortly  after  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  transports,  under 
convoy  of  a  frigate  and  two  bomb-ketches,  ffora  Ja- 
maica for  Halifax,  with  troops.  The  Essex  kept  at 
a  distance  until  night,  when  she  cut  off  a  brig  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers  on  boards  which  was 
ransomed  for  a  bill  of  exchange  on  London  for  four- 
teen thousand  dollars.  The  men  were  disaroaed, 
and  an  exchange  receipt  iaken  for  them*  and  they 
severally  took  an  o%th  not  to  serve  until  ex£hai%ed. 

The  following  day  captain  Por4«r  captured  the 
brig  Lamprey  from  Jamaica,  by  which  he  received 
intelligence  that  the  Thetis  frigate,  with  ^ipede  and 
a  large  convoy  was  about  sailiiig  for  England.  Every 
exertHwwas  made  to  get  off  St.  Augustine  In  time 
to  fall  in  with  them,  but  without  ^ect,  as  fresh  ^es 
prevailed  from  the  southwpst,  whkh  increased  tiU  the 
19th  of  July,  when,  by  the  violence  of  die  tem^st, 
they  were  oompelled  to  run  before  the  wind.'  ^ 

On  the  thirteenth  of  August,  <lie  Brii^h  a^^qf 
w«r  Alert,  of  t««rtjr  gw«  fw  dow.  on  tlm|Ph. 
«r  quarter  of  the  Essex.  Her  orew  gave  thre6  't^hders, 
wad  immediately  cornmenced  an  osgageniMit.  But 
so  spirited  and  well  duwcted  a  fire  wmk^  up  £tom 
the  Essex,  that  in  eight  minutes  after  the  comoience- 
ment  of  the  action,  she  forced  the  Alert  to  strike 


■r 


1 


m 


H I      I  11 


■'V. 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


69 


y\ 


at 

n 


« 


■r 


I 


'i 


60 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


her  colours.  She  had  seven  feet  water  in  her  hold. 
She  was  much  cut  to  pieces,  and  had  three  men 
wounded.  The  Essex  did  not  receive  the  slightest 
injury. 

Captain  Porter,  being  much  embarrassed  by  the 
number  of  his  prisoners,  amounting  to  about  five 
hundred,  concluded  an  arrangement  with  the  captain 
of  the  Alert  for  sending  them  to  a  British  port,  in 
the  Alert,  as  a  cartel. 

The  Alert,  on  her  return  to  the  United  States, 
was  fitted  out  as  a  government  vessel. 

^  On  the  30th  of  August,  the  Essex  being  in  lati- 
tude 36  N.  longitude  62  w.  a  British  frigate  was  dis- 
covered standing  towards  her,  under  a  press  of  sail. 
Captain  Porter  stood  for  her  under  easy  sail,  with 
his  ship  prepared  for  action;  and  apprehensive  that 
she  might  not  find  the  Essex  during  the  night,  he 
hoisted  a  light.  At  nine  the  British  vessel  made  a 
signal.  It  consisted  of  two  flashes  and  a  blue  light. 
She  was  then  apparently  about  four  miles  distant. 
Captain  Porter  stood  for  the  point  where  she  was 
seen,  until  midnight,  when  perceiving  nothing  of  her 

'he  concluded  it  would  be  best  to  heave-to  for  her^ 
until  morning,  concluding  she  had  done  the  same. 
But  to  his  great  surprise,  and  the  mortification  of{ 
his  officers  and  crew,  she  was»no  longer  in  sight. 
Captain  Porter,  believed  it  to  be  not  unlikely,  that 
this  vessel,  was  the  Acasta,  of  fifty  guns,. sent  out, 
accompanied  by  the  Ring  Dove,  of  twenty-two,  to 
cruise  for  the  Essex. 


M 


MAVAL    BATTLES. 


61 


1. 

h 

Lt 

e 


s 

r 


On  the  4th  of  September,  the  Essex  being  off  the 
tail  of  St.  George's  Bank,  two  ships  of  war  were 
discovered  to  the  southward,  and  a  brig  to  the  north- 
ward. The  brig  was  in  chase  of  an  American  mer- 
chant ship.  Captain  Porter  immediately  chsised  the 
brig,  which  attempted  to  pass,  and  join  the  rest  of 
the  squadron.  This  he  prevented,  and  compelled 
her  to  stand  to  the  northward.  He  continued  in 
chase  of  her,  until  abreast  of  the  American  ship, 
when  the  wind  becoming  light,  she  escaped  by  means 
of  her  sweeps.  On  shewing  American  colours,  sev- 
eral signal  guns  were  fired  by  the  ships  to  the 
southward.  All  sail  was  made  by  them  in  chase. 
At  four  p.  M.  they  had  gained  the  wake  of  the  Es- 
sex, and  were  coming  up  with  her  very  fast.  Cal- 
culating on  making  his  escape  by  some  manoeuvre 
during  the  night,  he  fired  a  gun  to  windward.  The 
two  ships  still  continued  to  gain  on  the  Essex.  The 
largest  was  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other, 
and  about  five  miles  astern  of  the  Essex.  Captain 
Porter  determined  to  heave  about  as  soon  as  it  grew 
dark,  and,  in  case  he  should  not  be  able  to  pass  her, 
he  determined  to  fire  a  broadside  into  her,  and  lay 
her  on  board.  The  crew,  as  soon  as  the  plan  was 
proposed  to  them,  gave  three  cheers,  and  were  in 
high  spirits.  Twenty  minutes  after  seven,  the  Essex 
hove  about,  and  stood  s.  e.  by  s.  until  thirty  minutes 
after  eight,  when  she  bore  away  s.  w.  without  see- 
ing any  thing  more  of  them.  This  was  the  more 
surprising,  as  a  pistol  was  fired  on  board  the  Essex 
when  nearest  to  them. 


•» 


ft' 


62 


NATAL     BATTLES. 


The  £f8ex  arrived  safe  in  the  Delaware  a  Tew 
days  after. 


f 


-»«., 


WASP  AND  FROUC. 

Of  all  the  victories  achieved  hy  single  vessels, 
perhaps  the  most  brilliant,  and  which  will  probably 
long  stand  on  record  without  a  parallel,  is  that  of 
the  Wasp,  commanded  by  captain  Jacob  Jones,  over 
the  sloop  of  war  Frdic. 

On  the  Idth  of  October,  captain  Jones  left  the 
Delaw^are  bay  in  the  Wasp,  -on  a  cruise.  On  the 
16th,  1^  ex|»erienced  a  heavy  gale,  in  which  she  lost 
her  jib-boom  and  two  men.  On  the  eyieuing  of  the 
»ext  day,  about  eleven  o'clock,  being  in  the  track 
of  vessels  passing  from  Bermuda  to  Halifax,  erhe 
finond  herself  near  five  strange  sail,  steering  ^a^t. 
ward.  Some  of  them  appearing  to  be  Ships  of 
war,  it  was  tbougiit  ibetter  to  get  Either  from  them. 
Ilie  Wasp,  therefco'e,  iunded  her  wind,  and  having 
reacbfed  a  few  miles  to  windward,  so  as  to  escape  or 
ight,  as  'Occasion  might  cequive,  fojiki^ed  the  Ktrange 
nid  trough  the  night.  Ait  dayibreak,  im  f^n^ 
nuvning,  >captain  Jones  found  «bat  they  w<ere  six 
large  merohant  ^lips  nnder  convoy  eif  a  'doop  4of 
war,  §tom  flcnduras  tto  Eaigknd.  Font  «f  the 
ghips  were  i»ge  and  wieU  manned,  mounting  from 
sixteen  to  eighteen  guns,  and  having  Ifom^oFtyto 


-i^'>\i 


NAVAL     BATTLES. 


J» 


fifty  men  each.  Captain  Jones,  however,  deter- 
mined to  attack  them.  The  convoy  made  their 
escape  under  a  press  of  sail.  The  sloop  of  war 
alone  remained,  which  proved  to  be  the  Frolic, 
captain  Whinyates,  mounting  twenty-two  guns,  and 
having  a  crew  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  men. 
There  was  a  heavy  swell  in  the  sea,  and  the  weather  , 
was  boisterous.  The  top-gallant  yards  of  the  Wasp 
were  taken  down,  her  top-sails  were  close  reefed, 
and  she  was  prepared  for  action. 

About  eleven  o'clock  the  Frolic  showed  Spanish 
colours.  The  Wasp  immediately  displayed  the 
American  ensign  and  pendant;  and  at  thirty-two 
minutes  past  eleven,  came  down  to  windward  on  the 
larboard  side  of  the  Frolic.  When  within  about 
sixty  yards  she  hailed.  The  Frolic  then  hauled  down 
her  Spainish  colours ;  hoisted  the  British  ensign  ;  and 
opened  a  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry.  This  was 
instantly  returned  by  the  Wasp ;  and,  nearing  the 
enemy,  the  action  became  close  and  spirited. 
About  four  or  five  minutes  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action,  the  main-top-mast  of  the 
Wasp  was  shot  iiway,  and,  having  fallen,  with  the 
main-top-sail  yard,  across  the  larboard,  fore,  and  fore- 
top-sail  braces,  rendered  her  head  yards  unmanage- 
able during  the  remainder  of  the  engagement.  In 
two  or  three  minutes  more,  hfir  gaff  and  mizzen-top- 
gallant-sail  were  shot  away.  She  however  kept  up 
.|^  close  and  constant  Are.  The  sea  was  so  rough, 
that  the  muzzles  of  the  Wasp's  guns  were  frequent- 
ly under  water.     The  Americans  fired  as  the  side  of 


64 


MAVAL    BATTLES. 


** 


i 

I' 


■1 


their  ship  was  going  down.  Their  shot  of  course, 
either  struck  the  Frolic's  deck,  or  below  it.  The 
English  fired  as  their  vessel  rose.  Their  balls  conse- 
quently only  struck  the  rigging,  or  were  ineflfectual. 
The  Wasp,  having  now  shot  ahead  of  the  Frolic, 
poured  a  broadside  into  her,  which  completely  raked 
her.  She  then  took  a  position  on  the  Frolic's  lar- 
board bow.  A  most  spirited  fire  was  now  kept  up 
from  the  Wasp,  which  produced  great  effect.  The 
fire  of  the  Frolic  had  slackened  so  much,  that  cap- 
tain Jones  gave  up  his  intention  of  boarding  her, 
lest  both  vessels  might  be  endangered  by  tl\jB  rough- 
ness of  the  sea.  But,  in  the  course  of  a  few  min- 
utes more,  not  a  brace  of  the  Wasp  was  left.  All 
had  been  shot  away.  Her  rigging  was  so  much  torn 
to  pieces,  that  captain  Jones  was  afraid,  that  her 
masts,  being  unsuppurted,  would  go  by  the  board  ; 
and  the  Frolic  thereby  be  enabled  to  escape.  He 
therefore  resolved  to  board,  and  at  once  decide  the 
contest.  With  this  intention,  he  wore  ship,  and  ran 
down  upon  the  enemy.  The  vessels  struck  each 
other.  The  Wasp's  side  rubbed  along  the  Frolic's 
bow.  The  jib-boom  of  the  latter  entered  between 
the  main  and  mizzen  rigging  of  the  Wasp,  directly 
over  the  heads  of  captain  Jones  and  his  first  lieuten- 
ant, Biddle,  who  were  then  standing  together  near 
the  capstan.  The  Frolic  now  lay  in  so  good  a  po- 
sition for  being  raked,  that  it  was  resolved  not  to 
board  until  another  broadside  had  been  poured  into 
her.  So  near  Were  the  two  vessels,  that  while  the 
men  were  loading   ^e  guns,  the  rammers  of  the 


'<.. 


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NATAL  BATTLES. 


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^«" 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


66 


Wasp  were  pushed  against  the  Frolic's  aktei ;  and 
t^o  of  her  guns  went  through  the  bow  ports  of  the 
Frolic^  a^l  swept  the  whole  length  of  her  deck. 
About  th^ '  time.  Jack  Lang,  a  brave  and  intrepid 
seaman,  of  th^Wasp,  and  who  had  once  been  im- 
pressed on  boara  a  ttian  of  war,  jumped  on  a  gun 
with  hi^^l^s,  and  was  springing  on  board  the 
Frolic;  when  Captain  Jones,  desiring  to  fire  again 
before  iboaidiug)  caUed  him  down.  Bot,  probably 
urged  on  by  his  iiB|ietuosity,  be  did  not  liear  the 
command  of  his  captain,  and  was  immediately  oA 
the  bowsprit  of  the  Frolic.  Lieutenai^t  Biddle,  per- 
ceiving die  ardour  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Wasp^a 
crew,  mounted  on  ike  hammock-cloth,  to  boanL 
The  crew  immediately  followed.  But  the  lierten^ 
aQt's  feet  behp  eaitangled  in  the  rigging  of  the 
Frolic's  bows^nt,attid  midshipman  Baker,  in  his  ar-* 
dour  to  board,  laymg  hold  of  his  coat,  he  lelH  back 
on  the  Wasp's  deck.  He  directly  sprang  up,,  and, 
as  the  jfiext  swell  of  the  sea  brought  ^  Frolic  neaiH 
n,  he  gqt  on  her  "bowsprit,  where  Lang  and  asothelr 
seaman  wbre  already.  He  passed  them  on  the  fore- 
castle ;  and  was  much  surprised  at  not  seeing  t 
single  man  alive  on  the  Frolic's  deck,  except  the  seiEi^* 
man  at  the  wheel,  and  three  officers.  The  (deck  v#a8 
slippery  ii^&  blood,  and  strewed  with  deadibodief. 
As  he  weiit  forward,  the  captun  of  the  FtoUc,  and 
two  other  olScers,  who  were  stsn^foigsontbe  quarteip* 
deck,  *}srem  down  their  swords,  and  made<an  incliiHi- 
tion  of  thehr  ^bodies,  as  a  sign  of  subanssimi.  l%ie  ' 
cdowrs  of  the  Fielic  were  still  flying.    None  ^f  ker- 


06 


NkVAh    BATTLES. 


i  * 


: 


sBanuui)  probably,  dared  to  go  into  the  rigging,  to 
strike  them,  for  fear  of  the  musketry  of  the  Wasp. 
Lieutenant  Biddle  himself  immediately  jiimped  into 
the  rigging,  and  hauled  down  the  British  ensign. 
Ppssession  was  taken  of  the  Frolic  forty-three  min- 
utes after  the  commencement  of  tR  action.  She 
presented  a  most  shocking  spectacle.  HerMrth-deck 
was  crowded  with  dead,  wounded,  and  d^g.  Not 
above  twenty  of  her  crew  escaped  unhurt.  Captain 
Jones  immediately  ^ent  his  surgeon's  mate  on  board. 
All  the  blankets  of  the  Frolic  were  brought  from 
her  slop-room /or  the  accommodation  of  the  wound- 
ed. To  increase  the  confusion,  both  the  frolic's 
masts  fell,  soon  after  taking  possession  of  her, '  and 
covered  the  dead  and  every  thing  on  deck. 

In  this  action,  the  crews  of  the  ves^ls  were  about 
'equal.     The  British  vessel  mounted  lour  guns  more 

'  than  the,  American.  The  destruction  on  board  of 
the  Frolic  could  not  be  exactly  determined;  but, 
from  the  obseryitions  of  the  American  officers,  and 
the  declarations  of  the  English,  there  could  not  have 
been  less  than  thirty  killed,  and  about  fifty  wounded. 
The  Wasp  had,  only  five  men  killed,  and  five  wound- 
ed. , 

Lieutenant  Biddle  was  placed  on  board  the  Frolic. 
A  suspicious  sail  being  perceived  to  windward.  Cap- 
tain Jones  ordered  him  to  proceed  to  Charleston, 

.  or  any  other  southern  port  in  the  United  States. 
The  Wasp  intended  to  continue  her  cruise.    The 

'  ships  then  parted.  The  suspicious  sail  bore  down 
very  fast.    It  was  at  first  supposed  she  was  one  of 


;jtt' 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


e? 


the  convoy.  The  Wasp  was  immediately  cleared 
for  action.  As  she  approached,  she  proved  to  be  a 
seventy-four,  the  Poictiers,  captain  Beresford.  She 
fired  a  shot  over  the  Frolic  ;  and,  having  passed  her, 
overtook  the  \\^pp,  the  disabled  state  of  whose  rig- 
ging prevented  her  from  escaping.  After  she  was 
taken  pi^A^s^ion  of,  the  Poictiers  returned  to  secure 
the  Frolic.  Both  vessels  were  carried  into  Ber- 
muda. 

This  action  completely  demonstrated  the  superior 
skill  and  spirit  of  the  American  naval  officers  and 
seamen.  The  superiority  of  force  certainly  was  on 
the  side  of  the  British. 

On  the  return  of  captain  Jones  to  the  United 
States,  his  gallant  conduct  was  not  passed  unnoticed 
by  his  grateful,  countrymen.  The  Congress  of  the 
United  States  voted  him  and  his  crew  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars,  in.  consideration  of  the  loss  they 
sustained  by  the  recapture  of  the  Frolic,  also  their 
thanks.  They  ordered  a  gold  medal  |o  be  presented 
to  the  captain,  and  a  silver  one  to  each  of  his  officers. 

This  gallant  exploit  deservedly  secured  to  cap- 
tain Jones  and  his  brave  crew,  the  acknowledgments 
of  their  grateful  countrymen.  The  narrow  limits 
of  our  work,  forbid  our  entering  into  detail.  We 
shall  therefore  merely  state  that  pieces  of  plate,  and 
swords  were  ordered  for  captain  Jones,  and  thanks 
voted  to  him  and  his  crew,  by  the  legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania—'the  legislature  of  the  state  of  Delaware— > 
the  legi^ture  of  New  York — the  house  of  repre- 


V;/ 


«e 


NAITAL  BATTLES. 


sentatives  of  Masstcfaiuetts*— the  citizens  of  Pliila- 
delphia,-— the  commoii  council  of  New  Yorkf  &c.   . 

The  order  of  Cincinnati  at  New  Yoii^  adnntied 
captain  Jones  into  the  Society  as  an  honotmury  mem- 
ber. 

Captain  Jones,  in  consideration  of  his  meril,  wU 
{?pf>oiiiled  to  command  the  Macedonia^  a  ihirtjr-eight 
^r  frigate,  just  captured  from  the  British. 

Lieutenant  fiiddile  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
master  commandants*  *   ! 


SECOND  CIIUISE  OF  OOMMODOBIB  ROBGEHS. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  commodore  Rodgers  sail- 
ed again  from  Boston,  in  the  firigatd  President, 
accompanied  by  the  United  States,  Congress,  and 
Argus.  On  the  IStfa,  the  United  States  and  Ar- 
gus parted  from  the  others  ia  a  gale  of  wind.  On 
the.  15tfa,  the  Pre^dent  and  Congress  captured 
the  British  packet  Swallow,  having  on  board  specie 
amounting  to  nearly  two  hu&dred  thousand  dollais. 
On  the  dlst  they  captured  a  South  Sea  lAip^  loaded 
wkh  oil,  one  of  two  s^ps  under  eomoy  of  ^e'^ak^* 
tea  fHgate,  to  whibh  tiey  gave  chase,  but  k»st  herin 
a  fog.  During  the  remainder  of  the  enifse,^ieyiniw  ae 
other  British  Vessel  except  the  frigaie  Nym|ih^  ivlikll 
•OIirk*i|  KftTtl  fiiitiny;  Vol  i  p.  183-^1S6. 


NATAL    BATTLKB. 


e9 


iped  in  the  night  On  the  31  st  cif  December  they 
arriYed  at  Boston,  having  been  as  far  to  the  east  as 
longitude  22,  and  to  the  south  as  far  as  latitude  17 
north.  From  longitude  22,  they  ran  down  the  trade 
wind  to  longitude  60,  and  passed  to  the  north,  one 
a  Intndred  and  fifty  miles  from  Bermuda.  In  thia 
cruise,  the  space  passed  over  was  not  less  than  eight 
thousand  miles ;  and  though  the  President  and  Con- 
gress returned  richly  laden,  their  commanders  could 
not  but  regret  that  no  opportunity  was  afforded  to 
try  the  spirit  and  discipline  of  their  officers  and 
crews.  The  cash  taken  from  the  Swallow  was  car- 
ried from  the  navy  yard  to  one  of  the  banks,  in  sev- 
eral waggons,  escorted  by  the  crews  of  the  frigates 
and  a  detachment  of  marines,  with  drums  beating  and 
colours  flying,  amidst  the  huzzas  of  a  large  con-  . 
course  of  spectators.  The  specie  and  gdld  dust  de- 
iposited  in  the  bank  were  said  to  be  worth  nearly  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars. 


THE  iLRQUa 


After  parting  from  the.  squadron,  as  above  not^d^ 
the  Arg^St  CQmmande.d  by  captain  Sinclair,  proceed- 
ed to  the  coast  of  Brazil,  sailed  along  the  north 
ooast,  from  cape  St.  Roque  to  Surinam,  thence  to 
the  windward  of  the  West  Indies,  and  in  every  di- 


>v 


n 


NAVAL    BATTLE0. 


rectioQ  between  the  Bermudas,  Halifax,  and  the  con- 
tinent. After  a  cruise  of  ninety-six  days,  she  arriv- 
ed at  Now  York,  having  made  five  prizes,#aiued  at 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  She  fell  in  with  a 
Briti^^h  squadron  of  six  sail,  tv  o  «f  whieft  were  of 
the  liixe,  and  one  of  them  •  remarkably  iiu  v  sailer. 
The  chase  wr*?  contii^ued  fojr  three  days  iuA  nights, 
and  uiider  varlt>us  circuB>8tanc<jS,  but,  by  unremitted 
exertiontp;  the  Aig^js  eluded  th,  pursuit.  Pressed  on 
all  sides  by  the  number  sf  the  enemy,  and  d^heu  baffled 
by  the  unsettled  state  of  the  weatiie?  «5he  was  at  one 
time  within  gunshot  of  a  scveir^y-iour,  aud  at  an- 
other iiearly  surrounded.  While  in  this  perilous  sit- 
uation, she  actually  captured  and  manned  one  of  her 
pris.o8. 


■  ,  I .  -'.1 1 » 


UNITED  STATES  AND  MACEDONIAN. 

■  '"  •  » 

On  the  25th  of  October,  after  being  separated 
firom  the  squadron,  the  United  States,  eonamanded 
by  commodore  Decatur,  fell  in  with  and*  captured, 
off  the  Western  lalj^s,  after  an  action  ^  ^  jdl  hour  and  a 
half,  the  British  f%ate  MacedQ;iI>'^n,  oaptain  Garden, 
mounting  forty-nine  guns,  and  carrying  three  hundred 
and  six  men.  The  Macedonian  being  to  windward, 
had  the  advantage  of  choosing  her  distance,  which 
was  so  great,  that  for  the  first  half  hoiff,  the  United 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


fl 


States  could  not  use  her  carronades  ;  and  at  no  time 
were  they  within  musket  or  grape  shot.  To  this 
circuiBfi^ce,  and  a  heavy  swell  of  the  sea,  was  as- 
cribed the  extreme  length  of  the  action.  In  this 
contest  the  superiority  of  the  American  gunnery  was 
strikingly  obvious.  .  The  Macedonian  had  one  hun^ 
dred  and  six  men  killed  and  wounded.  She  was  total- 
ly dismasted,  and  had  nearly  one  hundred  shot  holes  in 
her  hull.  On  board  the  United  States  there  were 
only  five  killed  and  seven  wounded ;  and  so  little  in- 
jury was  done  to  the  ship,  that,  in  five  minutes  after 
the  action,  she  was  fully  prepared  for  another. 
Shortly  alter  the  action  commenced,  such  a  torrent  of 
fire  proceeded  from  the  United  States,  that  the  crew 
of  the  Macedonian  supposed  she  was  actually  on  fire, 
and  gave  three  cheers. 

The  Macedonian  was  a  frigate  of  the  largest  class, 
only  two  years  old,  four  months  out  of  dock,  and  re- 
puted one  of  the  fastest  sailers  in  the  British  service. 

All  the  private  property  of  the  officers  and  crew 
of  the  Macedonian  was  given  up  to  them ;  that 
claimed  by  captain  Garden,  amounted  to  eight  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  was  paid  for  by  the  commodore. 

An  instance  of  the  generosity,  which  is  so  predom- 
inant in  the  breasts  of  American  tars,  must  not  be 
omitted.  John  Archibald,  one  pf  the  opw  of  the 
United  States,  received  a  mortal  wound,  ^which  he 
soou  after  aied.  He  left  three  children  to  the  mer- 
cy of  the- world  and  a  profligate  mother,  who  had 
deserted  them.  When  the  father  of  Archibald  went 
on  board  the  firigate,  to  claim  the  wages  and  proper- 


■^,r. 


n 


NATAL   BATTLES. 


< 

I 

< 


'  it 


NAVAL     BATTLES. 


m 


'» 


tj  of  his  son,  an  inquiry  was  mcJe  into  the  circum- 
stances of  his  family*  A  plan  was  immediately 
agreed  ||||^n  by  the  seamen  for  the  relief  of  the  or- 
phans. Two  dollars  was  subscribed  by  each  of  them ; 
a  sum  of  eight  hundred  dollarf  ^as  made  v^  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  suitable  trustees,  for  the  main- 
tenance and  education  of  his  children. 

Commodore  Decatur  arrived  at  New  London 
with  his  prize  on  the  4th  of  December.  He  receiv- 
ed from  all  quarters  the  congratulations  of  his  coun- 
trymen. A  gold  medal  was  presented  to  him  by 
Congress,  in  testimony  of  their  high  sense  of  his  gal- 
lantry, good  conduct  and  services.  The  legislature 
of  Pensylvania  voted  him  their  thatokil,  and  ad  ele- 
gant sword ;  and  various  other  testimonisils  of  j^b- 
lic  regard  Were  bestowed  upon  him  and  his  crew.  > 
The  tiews  of  this  brilliftnt  victory  was  received  at 
Washington  on/ the  evening  of  the  8th  of  Dc^etti- 
ber.  It  happened,  that  on  that  evening,  t  bidl  tlrAs 
given  in  compliment  to  the  officer  and  navy  g^n^- 
ly,  and  particularlyftb  cApt^  Stewaii:,  itt  tt6knd#1- 
edgmeiit  of  lids  politeness  to  the  citixfens  Of  WtilAl- 
mgton  on  a  reeent  ocq^sion.  A  \tagt  and  i'es|»«ieia- 
ble  cdni|mny  was  assemUed,  and  the  scen^  #a8 
graced%  thi6|nresenceof  altlSic  beatiil^iiid  ii^lildn 
of^he  dty.  The  roon^  fin  wl^h  the  iig|Mi/  W«?e 
assembled  bad  heen  decoratei  with  ter^opMes  of 
naval  victory.  Tbe  colairs  of  the  Guonieee  and  Jl^Mt, 
displayed  on  the  walls,  roused  jjferjWng  <#  |toiM- 
ism,  and  revived  in  the  ttiind  tile**  Ki§{r<|ctibi  of  itt 

bravery  which  had  won  them.  ;^t  this  time  lleutea 
-  10 


p- 


74 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


ant  HamUton  arrived  with  the  colours  of  the  Mace- 
donian, and  despatches  from  commodore  Decatu/ 
'He  was  received  with  loud  acclamations,  i|p  escor*. 
ed  to  the  festive  hall ;  and  the  colours  of  the  Mac 
edonian  were  borne  into  the  room  by  captains  Hull 
and  Stewart,  and  deposited  with  those  of  the  Guer- 
riere  and  Alert. 


CONSTITUTION  AND  JAVA. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Constitution  in  Boston,  after 
the  capture  of  the  Guerriere,  captain  Hull  received 
permission  to  remain  on  shore  to  attend  to  his  private 
affairs,  and  commodore  Bainbridge  was  appointed  to 
command  in  his  room.  After  undergoing  the  neces- 
sary repairs,  she  sailed  on  a  cruise  along  the  coast  of 
South  America,  accompanied  by  the  Hornet  sloop  of 
war,  bommanded  by  captain  Lawrence.  In  running 
down  the;  coast  of  the  Brazils,  they  found  the  Bonne 
Citoyenne,  a  British  ship  of  virar,  loaded  with  specie 
lying  in  the  port  of  St.  Salvador.  CoiJimodore 
Bainbridge  here  separated  from  captain  Lawrence, 
leaving  him  to  blockade  the  Bonne  Citoyenne. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  December,  the  Constitu- 
tion, being  in  13  degrees  south  latitude,  and  38  west 
longitude,  about  ten  leagues  from  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
at  nine  a.  m.  twS  sirange  vessels  were  discovered  on 
her  weather  bow.-^  At  ten  they  were  discovered  to 


NAVAl     f  At  tut 


'4» 


be  8h.|jd.  One  of  them  stood  in  for  the  land ;  the  otne* 
stood  off  shore  towards  the  Constitution.  At  ten* 
commoil^e  Bainbridge  tacked  ship  to  the  northward 
and  westward,  and  stood  for  the  sail  approaching 
him.  At  eleven  a.  m.  he  tacked  to  the  southward 
and  eastward,  hauled  up  the  mainsail,  and  took  m 
the  rojals.  At  thirty  minutes  past  eleven,  made  a 
private  signalfor  the  day,  which  was  not  answered ; 
and  then  set  mainsail  and  royals,  to  draw  the  strange 
vessel  off  from  the  neutral  coast,  and  separate  her 
from  her  company. 

At  twelve,  the  American  ensign  and  pendant  were 
hoisted  on  board  the  Constitution.  At  fifteen  min- 
utes past  twelve,  the  strange  vessel  hoisted  an  Eng- 
lish ensign,  and  displayed  a  signal  at  her  mainmast. 

At  a  quarter  past  one,  the  ship  in  sight  proving  to 
be  an  English  frigate,  and  being  sufficiently  distant 
from  land,  commodore  Bainbridge  ordered  the  main- 
sails and  royals  to  be  taken  in,  to  tack  ship  and  stand 
for  the  enemy ;  who  soon  bore  down  with  an  intention 
of  raking  the  Constitution,  which  she  avoided  by 
wearing.  At  two  .o'clock,  p.  m.  the  British  ship  was 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  Constitution,  and  to  wind- 
ward. She  now  hauled  down  her  colours,  except  an 
union  jack  at  the  miz'^eti-mast  head.  This  induced 
commodore  Bainbridj^e  K>  order  a  gun  to  be  fired 
anead  of  her,  to  make  her  show  her  colours.  It  was 
succeeded  by  the  whole  of  the  Constitution's  broad- 
side. On  this,  the  enenfy  immediately  hoisted  co- 
lours, and  returned  the  fire.  A  general  action  now 
commenced  with  round  and  grape  shot.    The  British 


76 


WAVAL    BATTLKfe, 


w 


IF 

frigate  kept  at  a  much  greater  di&'  wic*^  than  the  com- 
modore wished.  He,  however,  could  not  bring  her  to 
ckMer  action,  without  exposing  his  vessel  to  be  sev- 
eral  times  raked.  Both  vessels  for  some  time  man- 
oeovred  to  obtain  a  position  that  would  enable  them 
to  rake,  or  avoid  being  raked.  In  the  early  part  of 
the  engagement  the  wheel  of  the  Constitution  was 
shot  away.  Commodore  Bainbridge  determined  to 
close  with  the  British  vessel,  notwithstanding,  in  so 
doing,  he  should  expose  his  ship  to  be  several  times 
raked.  He  ordered  the  fore  and  mainsails  to  be  set, 
and  luffed  up  close  to  the  enemy,  in  such  a  manner 
that  his  jib-boom  got  foul  of  the  Constitution's 
mizzen  rigging.  About  three  o'clock,  the  head  of 
the  British  vessel's  bowsprit  and  jib-boom,  were  shot 
away ;  and,  in  the  space  of  an  hour,  her  foremast 
was  shot  away  by  the  board,  her  main-tOp-mast  just 
above  the  cap,  her  gaff  and  spanker-boom,  and  her 
mainmast  nearly  by  the  board. 

About  four  o'clock,  the  fire  of  the  British  vessel 
being  completely  silenced,  and  her  colours  in  the 
main  rigging  being  down,  she  was  supposed  to  have 
struck.  The  courses  of  the  Constitution  were  now 
hauled  on  board,  to  shoot  ahead,  in  order  to  repair 
hep  rigging,  which  was  very  much  cut.  The  Brit- 
ish vessel  was  left  a  complete  wreck.  Her  flag 
was  soon  after  discovered  to  be  still  flying.  Tffe 
Constitution,  however,  hove  to,  to  repair  some  of 
her  damages.  About  a  quarter  of  an  liour  after, 
the  mainmast  of  the  British  vessel  w^t  by  the 
board.    About  three  quarters  of  an  hour  after  four, 


<:     • 


MAVAL  BATILXA. 


V 


"S 


^ 


n 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


i: 


the  Constitution  wore,  and  stood  for  the  British  ve^ 
sel ;  and  got  close  to  her  athwart  her  bows,  in  a 
very  effectual  position  for  raking,  when  she  prudent- 
ly struck  her  flag.  Had  she  suffered  the  broadside 
to  have  raked  her,  hei  ^ditional  loss  would  have 
been  extremely  great ;  for  she  lay  quite  an  unman- 
ageable wreck  upon  the  water. 

After  the  British  frigate  struck,  the  Constitution 
wore  and  reefed  topsails.  One  of  the  op\y  two  re- 
maining boats  out  of  eight,  was  then  hoisted  out,  and 
Meutenant  Parker,  of  the  Constitution,  was  sent  to 
take  possession  of  the  frigate.  She  proved  to  be 
his  Britannick  majesty's  frigate  Java,  rating  thiity- 
eight,  but  carrying  forty-nine  guns.  She  was  man- 
ned by  upwards  of  four  hundred  men ;  and  wai 
commanded  by  captain  Lambert,  a  very  distinguish- 
ed naval  officer.  He  was  mortally  wounded.  The 
action  continued,  from  the  time  the  firing  commenc- 
ed till  the  time  it  ceased,  one  hour  and  fifty-five 
minutes. 

The  Constitution  had  nine  men  killed,  and  twen- 
ty-five wounded.  The  Java  had  sixty  killed,  and 
one  hundred  and  one  (certainly)  \.  ounded — ^but  by 
a  letter  written  on  board  the  Constitution,  by  one  of 
the  officers  of  the  Java,  and  accidentally  found,  it  is 
evident  her  loss  must  have  been  much  greater.  He 
states  it  to  have  been  sixty  killed,  and  one  hundred 
and  seventy  wounded. 

The  Java  had  her  own  fiiU  complement  of  men, 
and  i^^ards  of  one  hundred  supemimierariesv  for 
British'  ships  in  the  East  Indies.    H^pnece  in  num- 


/ 


n 


NAVAL    BATTLED. 


79 


ed 


ber  of  men,  at  the  commencement  of  the  action,  was 
probably  much  greater  than  the  officers  of  the  Con- 
stitution were  enabled  to  ascertain.  Her  officers 
were  extremely  cautious  in  discovering  the  number 
of  ber  crew.  By  her  quarter  bill  she  had  one  man 
more,  stationed  at  each  gun,  than  the  Constitution. 
The  Java  was  an  important  ship.  She  was  fitted 
out  in  the  most  complete  manner,  to  carry  lieuten- 
ant general  Hislop  and  staff  to  Bombay,  of  which 
place  he  had  been  appointed  govemour,  and  several 
naval  officers  for  different  vessels  in  the  East  Indies. 
She  had  despatches  for  St.  Helena,  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  for  every  British  establishment  in  the  In- 
dian and  Chinese  seas.  She  had  copper  on  board  for 
a  seventy-four,  and  for  two  brigs,  building  at  Bom- 
bay ;  and  probably  a  number  of  other  valuable  arti- 
cles. 

The  great  distance  from  the  United  States,  and 
the  disabled  state  of  the  Java,  forbade^  every  idea  of 
attempting  to  bring  herto  the  United  States.  No 
alternative  was  therefoff^lelft,  but  to  burn  her,  which 
was  done,  after  the  prisoners  and  their  baggage  were 
removed  to  the  Constitution.  They  were  all  landed 
at  St.  Salvador,"  and  paroled.  The  commander  of 
''th/^ava,  captain  Lambert,  died  soon  after  he  was 
put  on  shore.  The  British  officers  paroled  were  a 
lieutenant-general,  a  major,  and  a  captain,  of  land 
service;  in  the  naval  service,  a  post  captain,  a  ma«- 
ter  and  commander,  five  lieutenants,  three  lieuten- 
ants of  marines,  a  surgeon,  two  assistant  surgeons,  a 
purser,  fifteen  midshipmeii,  a  gunner,  a  boatswaiui  a 


% 


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IfATAl     BATTLES. 


i.'^'i 


m 


p. 


master,  a  carpenter,  and  two  captain's  clerks ;  like- 
wise, three  hundred  and  twenty  three  petty  officers, 
seamen,  and  marines — making  all  together  three 
hundred  and  fifty-one  men;  besides  nine  Portuguese 
seamen,  liberated,  and  eight  passengers,  private 
characters,  who  were  permit  «d  to  land  with  out  re- 
straint. 

Lieutenant  Aylwin,  of  the  Constitution,  was  se- 
verely wounded  during  the  action.  When  the  board- 
ers were  called  to  repel  boarders,  he  mounted  the' 
quarter-deck  hammock  cloth*,  and,  in  the  act. of  fir- 
ing his  pistol  at  the  enemy,  he  received  a  ball  through 
his  shoulder.  Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  his 
wound,  he  continued  at  his  post  until  the  enemy 
struck.  A  few  days  afterwaVds,  when  an  engage- 
ment was  expected  with  a  ship,  which  afterwards 
proved  to  be  the  Hornet,  he  left  his  bed,  and  repair- 
ed to  quarters,  though  labouring  under  a  consider- 
able debility,  and  under  the  most  excruciating  pain. 
He  died  on  the  28th  of  Jsmuary,  at  sea. 

Commodore  Bainbridge  pas  received  by  his  coun- 
trymen on  his  return  to  the*United  States,  with  every 
demonstration  of  joy  and  esteem  that  his  gallant  ex- 
ploit merited. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  voted  fifty- 
thousand  dollars,  and  their  thanks,  to  commodore 
Bainbridge,  his  officers  and  crew.  They  likewise 
ordered  a  gold  medal  to  be  presented  to  commoddre 
Bainbridge,  and  silver  ones  to  each  of  his  officers,  in 
token  ^  the^  esteem. 


1  '.V'iaeuiit.4' 


! 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


81 


The  legislatures  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York, 
oic.  voted  their  thanks  to  commodore  Baiubridge,  his 
officers,  and  crew.* 


* 


HORNET  AND  PEACOCK. 

y  Th£  Hornet,  of  eighteen  guns,  commanded  by 
captain  Lawrence,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  article, 
tailed  in  company  with  the  Constituti  jn.  Such  was 
me  eagerness  of  captain  Lawreno^/  to  engage  the 
Bonne  Citoyenne,  though  a  much  .argpi  vessel,  and 

.  having  a  greater  force,  both  in  guns  and  men,  that  he 
-sent,  through  the  American  consul  at  St.  Salvador, 
a  challenge  to  her  commander,  captain  Green,  pledg- 
ing his  honour,  that  neither  the  Constitution,  nor  any 
other    American    vessels    should  interfere.       This 
pledge  was  confirmed  by  commodore  Bainbridge,  who 
to  show  his  sincere  f,  left  the  Hornest  before  St.  Sal- 
vador, and  sailed  on  another  cruise.     The  comman- 
der of  the  Bonne  Citoyenn^,  however  did  not  see  fi 
to  accept  of  the  challenge,  out  suffered  himself  to  b 
blockaded  by  the  Hornet.     Captain  Lawrence  con 
tinned  for  fourteen  4ays  off  the  harbour  of  St.  Sal 
vador,  bloiclLading  the  Bonne  Citoyenne.     T^ro  oth- 
er Engli^  vessels  were  likewise  in  the  same  port, 
namely,  Hbug  Fox,  of  twelve  guns,  and  an  armed 
schoQfier. 

•  Qlad^f  Mttval  Hiatory,  vol.  i.  p.  188<^1» 
11 


82 


NAVAL  BATTLES* 


i 


>  -v. 


« 

M 
>« 

9 
H 


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K     4.' 

W     "E 
H 

9 

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M 

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o 

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NATAL     BATTLES. 


83 


On  the  24th  of  January,  the  Montague  of  seven- 
ty-four  guns,  hove  in  sight,  and  drove  the  Hornet 
into  the  harbour — but  night  coming  on,  she  wore, 
and  stood  out  to  the  southward.  Captain  Lawrence, 
knowmg  that  the  seventy-four  had  come  for  the 
purpose  of  relieving  the  Bonne  Citoyenne  and  pack- 
et Fox  from  blockade,  jitdged  it  most  prudent  to 
change  his  cruising  ground.  He  therefore  hauled  by 
the  wind  to  the  westward,  with  the  intention  of  cruis- 
ing off  Pernambuco. 

On  the  10th  of  February  he  captured  the  English  V 
brig  Resolution,  of  ten  guns,  bound  to  Maranhara, 
from  Rio  Janeiro,  laden  with  coffee,  jerked  beef,  flour, 
fustic,  butter,  and  about  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  ' 
in  specie.  As  this  vessel  sailed  dull,  and  as  captain 
Lawrence  could  not  spare  hands  to  man  her,  he  took 
out  the  money,  and  set  her  on  fire. 

He  then  ran  down  the  coast  for  Maranham  ;  and 
cruised  there  a  short  time.  Thence  he  ran  off  Sur- 
inam. After  cruising  off  that  coast  from  the  fifteenth 
to  the  twenty-third  of  February,  without  meeting 
with  a  vessel,  ha  stood  for  Pemarara  ;  and  intendedv 
should  he  not  be  fortunate  on  that  station,  tp  run 
through  the  West  Indies,  on  his  way  to  the  United 
States — but,  on  the  ^th,  in  the  morning,  he  discov- 
ered a  brig  to  leeward ;  to  which  he  immediately 
gave  chase.  Not  having  a  pilot  on  board,  he  was 
obliged  to  haul  off.  The  fort  at  the  entrance  of  De- 
marara  river  bore  southwest,  distant  about  two  and 
a  half  leagues.  Previous  to  giving  up  the  chase, 
captain   Lawrence  discovered  a  vessel  a|   anchor 


% 


4 


• 


#   > 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


86 


g 


H 

o 


#y^'  i-! 


'♦ 


» 


:-jfV 


tit 


without  the  bar,  with  English  colours  flying.  She 
appeared  to  be  a  brig  of  war.  In  beating  round  Car- 
obana  bank,  in  order  to  get  to  her,  at  half  past  three 
p.  M.  he  discovered  another  sail  on  his  weather  quar- 
ter, edging  down  for  him.  At  twenty  minutes  past 
four,  she  hoisted  English  colours.  She  was  now 
discovered  to  be  a  large  man  of  war  brig. 

Captain  Lawrence  immediately  ordered  his  men 
to  quarters,  and  had  the  ship  cleared  for  action.  He 
kept  close  by  the  wind,  in  order  if  possible,  to  get 
the  weathergage  of  the  approaching  vessel.  At  ten 
minutes  past  five,  finding  he  could  weather  the  ene- 
emy,  he  hoisted  American  colours  and  tacked. 
About  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  this,  the  ships  pass- 
ed each  other,  and  exchanged  broadsides  within  half 
pistol  shot.  Captain  Lawrence  observing  the  enemy 
in  the  act  of  wearing,  bore  up,  received  his  starboard 
broadside,  and  ran  him  close  on  board  on  the  star- 
board quarter.  From  that  position  he  kept  up  a 
Anost  severe  and  well  directed  fire.  So  great  was 
its  effect,  that,  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  the  Brit- 
ish vessel  struck.  She  was  almost  cut  to  pieces,  and 
hoisted  an  ensign,  union  down,  from  her  fore  rigging 
as  a  signal  of  distress.  Shortly  after,  her  mainmast 
went  by  the  board.  , 

Lieutenant  Shubrick  was  despatched  on  board. 
He  soon  returned  with  her  first  lieutenant,  who  report- 
ed her  to  be  his  Britannick  Majesty's  brig  Peacock, 
commanded  by  captain  William  Peake,  who  fell  in 
the  acti||[m< — that  a  number  of  her  crew  were  killed 
and  woidnded — and  that  she  was  sinking  very  fast, 


•^ 


• 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


iiaving  then  six  feet  water  in  her  hotd.  The  boats 
of  the  Hornet  were  immediateiy  despatched  for  che 
wounded.  Both  vessels  were  brought  to  anchor. 
Those  shot  holes  in  the  Peacock  that  could  be  got 
at,  were  then  plugged,  and  her  gun«  thrown  over- 
board. Every  exertion  was  used  to  keep  her  afloat, 
until  the  prisoners  could  be  removed,  by  pumping 
and  bailing,  but  without  effect.  She  unfortunately 
sunk  in  five  and  a  half  fathoms  water,  with  thirteen 
of  her  crew,  and  three  of  the  Hornet's.  Lieutenant 
Connor,  midshipman  Cooper,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  men  employed  in  removing  the  prisoners,  with 
difficulty  saved  themselves  by  jumping  into  a  boat 
that  was  lying  (/>  the  booms,  as  the  vessel  went 
down.  Four  men  of  the  Peacock's  crew,  who  were 
on  board  when  she  went  down,  and  were  so  fortunate 
as  to  gain  the  foretop,  were  afterwards  taken,  off  by  l^f 
the  Hornet's  boats.  Previous  tc  the  Peacock's 
sinking,  four  of  her  men  took  to  her  stern  boat, 
which  had  been  muchv  damaged  during  the  action!^ 
There  was  little  or  no  prospect  oi  their  reaching  the 
land.     They,  however,  arrived  safe  at  Demarara. 

Captain  Lawrence  could  not  ascertain  from  the 
officers  of  the  Peacock  the  exact  number  of  killed. 
Captain  Peake  and  four  men  were  found  dead  on 
board.  The  master,  one  midshipman,  carpenter, 
captain's  clerk,  and  twenty-nine  seamen  of  the  Pea- 
cock, were  wounded ;  most  of  them  very  severely-*  ft  I  ft 
three  died  after  being  removed — nine  were  drowned. 

The  Hornet  had  only  one  man  killed|,and  two 
slightly  wounded.      Two   men  were  also  severely 


■  Wm 


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NATAL    BATTL£8. 


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burnt  by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridge,  one  of  whom 
died  a  few  days  after.  The  rigging  and  sails  of  the 
Hornet  were  much  cut.  A  shot  passed  through  the 
foremast ;  the  bowsprifwas  slightly  injured  ;  but  her 
bull  received  very  little  injury. 
':  At  the  time  captain  Lawrence  brought  the  Pea- 
cock to  action,  the  Espiegle,  the  brig  mentioned  as 
being  at  anchor,  lay  within  six  miles  of  the  Hornet, 
between  her  and  the  shore,  and  could  plainly  see 
the  whole  of  the  action.  She  mounted  eighteen 
guns.  Supposing  that  she  would  beat  out  to  the  as- 
i^istance  of  her  consort,  great  exertions  were  used  by 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Hornet,  to  repair  her 
damages.  By  nine  o'clock  her  boats  were  stowed ; 
a  n^w  set  of  sails  bent ;  and  the  ship  completely 
ready  for  action.  .    lo 

At.  two  o'clock,  A.  M.  the  Hornet  got  under  way 
and  stood  by  the  winJ  to  the  northward  and  west- 
ward, under  easy  sail.  On  mustering  next  morning, 
two  hundred  and  seventy  souls  were  found  to  be  on 
board  the  Hornet.  As  the  crew  of  the  latter  had 
been  for  some  time  on  short  allowance,  captain  Law- 
rence resolved  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  to  the 
United  States. 

The  Peacock  was  deservedly  styled  one  of  the 
finest  vessels  of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  She 
was  about  the  tonnage  of  the  Hornet.  Her  beam 
was  greater  by  five  inches  ;  but  k^r  extreme  length 
not  so  great  by  four  feet.  She  mounted  sixteen  four 
and-twenty  pound  carronades,  two  loug  nines,  a 
twelve  pound  carronade  on  her  top  gallant  fore-castle 


i 


V 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


as  a  shifting  gun,  and  a  four  or  six  pounder,  aiA  two 
sv  els  aft.  By  her  quarter  bill,  her  crew  consisted 
of  >ae  hundred  and  thirty-fou'  men,  four  of  whom 
were  absent  in  a  prize,  besides  'bu;  men  and  one  boy, 
who  were  not  on  her  quarter  bill. 

Of  the  Hornet's  crew,  the  sailing  master  and 
seven  men  were  absent  in  a  priae  ;  and  lieutenant 
Stewart  and  six  men  on  the  sick  list. 

The  conduct  of  the  Hornet's  crew  towards  th*; 
British  seamen,  who,  by  the  sinking  of  their  vessel, 
had  lost  every  thing  except  what  they  had  on  tiieir 
backs,  manifested  much  humanity  and  generosity. 
They  raised  among  themselves  a  sufficiency  to  sup- 
ply these  distressed  seamen,  with  two  shirts^  a  blue 
jacket  and  trowsers  each.  The  surviving  officer^  of 
the  Peacock  returned  a  public  acknowledgment  to 
the  captain  and  officers  of  the  Hornet,  for  the  hu*^ 
ri' anity  and  kindness  wherewith  they  treated  them. 

Captain  Lawrence  on  his  return  to  the  United 
States  was  received  with  grejit  distinction  and  ap- 
plause. The  same  tokens  of  approbation  and  esteem 
were  conferred  on  him  by  public  bodies,  with  which 
other  gallant  and  successful  commanders  had  been 
honoured.* 


CHESAPEAKE  AND  SHANNON. 

The  Chesapeake  frigate^  commanded  1^  captain 
Evans,  sailed  from  Boston  about  the  middle  of  No- 
»  Clark't  NiiVtl  History,  tol.  i.  p.  SOS^^^AOS. 


m 


I  r 


NAVAL     BATTLES. 


89 


r^ 


pointed  to  c< 
had  he  arrive 
manded  by  cap 


Yembert  1812;  and  after  a  cruise  of  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  days,  returned  to  Boston.  During  the 
cruise  several  captures  of  some  importance  were 
made. 

The  Chesapeake  continued  in  Boston  harbour 
until  the  first  of  June,  the  day  of  her  unfortunate 
rencounter  with  th-  Shannon.  Captain  Lawrence, 
of  the  Hornet  i  short  time  previous  been  ap- 

the  Chesapeake,   and   hardl 
m,  when  the  Shannon,  com- 
lu..       oke,  appeared  off  the  harboiir 
with  the  avowed  purpose  of  seeking  a  combat  with 
her. 

^'  Stung  with  the  repeated  disasters  of  the  British 
frigates,  this  officer  resolved  to  make  an  efibrt  to 
retrieve  them  ;  and  when  he  deemed  his  ship  per< 
fectly  prepared  for  that  purpose,  sent  a  formal  chal- 
lenge to  captain  Lawrence. 

**  <  As  the  Chesapeake,'  his  letter  began,  *•  appear* 
now  ready  fat  sea,  I  request  you  will  do  me  the  fsi* 
your  to  meet  the  Shannon  with  her,  ship  to  ship,  to> 
try  the  fortune  -of  our  respective  flags.  To  an  offi- 
cer of  your  character,  it  requires  some  apoJogy  for 
procfteding  to  further  particulars.  Be  assured!,  sir 
that  it  is  not  from  any  doubt  I  entertain  of  your  wishing; 
to  dose  with  my  proposal  bui  merely  to  provide  an 
answer  to  any  ol^ction,  that  might  be  made,  and 
very  reasonali^y,  upon,  the  obanco  oi  om  receiviaf^ 
liito  support.'  After  observing  ^t  cQmmodoi» 
Rodgets  had  not  accepted  several  verbal  chaUengiet 

which  he  had  ^ven,  etf  taift  Bioke  then  ptocemb  tP 
12 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STM ET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

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90 


NATAL    BATTLES* 


stnte  very  minutely  the  force  of  the  Shaimon>  ano 
otitis  to  send  all  British  ships  out  of  reach,  so  that 
they  might  have  a  fair  combat,  at  any  place  within  a 
certain  range  along  the  coast  of  New  England  which 
he  specified  ;  if  more  agreeable,  he  offers  to  sail  to- 
gether, and  to  warn  the  Chesapeake,  by  means  of  pri* 
rate  signals,  of  the  approach  of  British  ships  of  war,  till 
they  reach  some  solitary  spot — or  to  sai!  with  a  flag  of 
truce  to  any  place  out  of  the  reach  of  British  aid,  so 
that  the  flag  should  be  hauled  down  when  rtwas 
deemed  fair  to  begin  hostilities.  *  I  entreat  you,  sir,' 
he  concludes,  *  not  to  imagine  that  I  am  urged  by 
mere  personal  vanity  to  the  wish  of  meeting  the 
Chesapeake,  or  that  I  depend  only  upon  your  per- 
gonal ambition  for  your  acceding  to  this  invitation* 
We  have  both  nobler  motii  tow  You  will  feel  it  as  a 
eomplinaent,  if  I  say  that  the  result  of  our  meetings 
may  be  the  most  grateful  service  I  can  render  to  my 
country ;  and  I  doubt  not  that  you,  equally  confident 
of  success,  will  feel  convinced  that  it  is  only  by  re- 
peated triumphs  in  even  combats,  that  your  little 
navy  can  now  hope  to  console  your  country  for  the 
loss  of  that  trade  it  can  no  longer  protect.' 

^  The  style  of  this  letter,  with  the  exception  of  the 
puerile  bravado  about  commodore  Rodgers,  is  frank 
ind  manly ;  and  if  the  force  of  the  Shannon  were . 
correctly  stated,  would  be  such  a  challenge  as  might 
well  be  sent  froih  a  brave  seaman  to  a  gallant  adver* 
■ary.  We,  however,  are  but  too  well  SMitisfied,  that 
captain  Broke  studiously  underrated  the  number  of 
lis  guns  and  crew ;  or  that,  after  his  challenge,  h» 


■• 


NATAL    BATTLKS. 


91 


mvst  have  received  additions  to  both.  That  the 
Shannon  had  more  guns  than  the  number  stated  by 
her  commander,  we  learn  from  the  testimony  of  the 
surviving  officers  of  the  Chesapeake  ;  who  also  assert, 
that  she  had  three  hundred  and  seventy-six  men; 
that  she  had  an  officer  and  sixteen  men  from  the 
Belle  Poule ;  and  that  the  hats  of  some  of  her  sea- 
men were  marked  *  Tenedos.'  Such  as  it  was,  how- 
ever, this  letter,  most  unfortunately,  never  reached 
captain  Lawrence.  If  he  had  received  it ;  if  he  had 
been  thus  warned  to  prepare  his  ship  ;  if  he  had  had 
an  opportunity  of  selecting  his  officers,  and  disciplin- 
ing his  crew  ;  if,  in  short,  he  had  been  able  to  place 
the  Chesapeake  on  anything  like  equal  terms  with  the 
Shannon,  the  combat  might  have  been  more  bloody- 
there  might  have  been  such  an  engagement  as  has  not 
yet  been  seen  between  single  ships  on  the  ocean; 
though  we  cannot  suffisr  ourselves  to  doubt  the  result  of 
it.  But  he  knew  nothing  of  this  challenge^he  saw 
only  the  Shannon  riding  before  him  in  defiance ;  he  re- 
membered the  spirit  with  which  he  himself  over- 
awed a  superior,  and  he  could  not  brook  for  a  inoment 
that  an  eneipy,  which  seemed  to  be  his  equal,  sb^ >uid 
insult  his  flag.  Although,  therefore,  the  Chesapeake 
was  comparatively  -  an  inferiour  ship— although  his 
first  lieutenant  was  sick  on,  shore— although  three  of 
hb  lieutenants  had  recently  left  her ;  and,  of  the 
four  who  remained,  two  were  only  midshipmen,  ac- 
ting as  lieatenants-^though  part  of  his  crew  were 
new  hands,  and  all  of  them  had  lost  some  of  their 
discipline  by  staying  in  port— yet,  as  he  would  hxn 


■•MMIMW 


92 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


.'.one  to  sea  in  that  situation  had  no  enemy  appeared, 
lie  felt  himself  bound  not  to  delay  sailing  on  that  ac- 
count, and*  throwing  himself,  therefore,  on  his  cour- 
age and  his  fortune,  he  determined  at  once  to  attack 
the  enemy.     It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of 
June,  1813,  that  the  Chesapeake  sailed  out  of  the  hl«- 
bour  of  Boston,  to  meet  the  Shannon.    As  soon  as  she 
got  under  way,  captain  Lawrence  called  the  crew  to- 
gether, and  having  hoisted  the  white  flag,  with  the 
motto  of  *  free   trade  and  sailor's  rights,'  made  a 
short  address.     His  speech,  however,  was  received 
with  no  enthusiasm-— on  the  contrary,  signs  of  dissat- 
.  isfaction  were   evident ;   particularly  from  a  boat- 
swain's mate,  a  Portuguese,  who  seemed  to  be  at 
the  head  of  the  malecontents ;  and  complaints  were 
muttered,  that  they  had  not  yet  received  their  prise 
money.     Such  expressions,  at  the  eve  of  an  action, 
were  but  ill-bodings  of  the  result  of  it;  but  captain 
Lawrence,  ignorant  ^s  he  was  of  the  characters  of 
las  sailors,  and  unvtdlling  at  such  a  moment  to  «*    i> 
their  spirits  by  harshness,  preserved  his  accusti.^   d 
caknneas,  and  had  prize-checks,  at  oace^  given  by 
the  purser  to  those  who  had  not  received  them. 
Whilst  this  scene  was  passing,  the  Shannon,  observing 
ike  Chesapeake  coming  out,  bore  away.    The  Chess^ 
peake  followed  her  titt  four^^'clock  in  the  aftesvooii, 
when  she  hauled  up  and  fired  a  gun,  on  which  the 
ShaniMni  hove  to.    They  maBoeuvred  for  some  timo> 
till,  at  about  a  quarter  before  six,  they  approachisd 
within  pistol  shot  and  ezckuiged  broMbidMu 


4*^ 


94TAL  BATTLES. 


yd 


UU 


."Tli<}se  broad^idei  were  both  bloody;  but  th.* 
Jire,oft^^JSbaiuip|  was  most  fortunat  in  tlie  de- 
^atruct^pii  of  officers.  The  fourth  lieutenant,  Mr. 
^Q^allai^,  ^as  mortiill^  wounded — the  sailing  master 
^yf9a  hUled^  and  captain  Lawrence  receired  a  musket 
^b^l  lA  his  leg,  which  caused  great  pain,  and  pro^se 

hlee||i|g,  but  be  leaned  on  the  companion  way,  aii^ 
^9pnl|n^Q4  }9  9f|l®'  ^^^  P  animate  hb  creW.  A  Se- 
^ifond,  andi,  a  tliird  oroadside  was  exchanged,  with 
^ 6¥ic(ent  ac^yantage  on  the  part  of  the  Chesapeake; 
|J)iit^,|i^9||unateIy,  among  tliose  now  wounded  on 
,j|>piird  of  hff  was  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ludtow, 
0y\^  was 'parried  below — three  men  werfe  successive- 
tJy  shot  from  the  helm,  in  about  twelve  minatiBS  from 
■^^p  ^OjQEi|D|ieiP|cement  of  the  action  ;  and  as  the  halids 
^^|r§;sl^|ftingi  a  sHot  disabled  her  foresail,  ^  that  She 
,^^^ji^d  w^  ^  -^r  heir  helm^  aqd  h^r  iot^r 

I^cajught  in  one  of  the  after  ports  of  the   ShaMn, 
lyrhjicb,  .f^lMibiejoi  tjbe  Matter  to  rake  her' upper  Updk. 
^^  l^ft  SQpo^^af  (^^tain  perceitcd  that  she%as 

l^^lin^  to  leeward,  and  that  by  the  ISharinon's  filing 
^jhe  would  fadlon  board,  he  called  his  boarders,  aldd^as 
^l^y|ng  orders  about  the  foresail,  wh^ti  he  receiif^d  a 
^^^iiis|jst  ball  in  Jils  bcMl^.  i?he  1)ugleman,%ho  shchild 
•^b«rft  ps^^  the  boarders,  did  not  d6  liiS  diity ;  lind, 
^at  tbi%  moment,' commodore  Broke,  whose  ship"  had 
ifl'ftxL.  SO  mucn  that  he  was  preparing  to  repel  board- 
;  uercei?uigV  from  this  accident,  how  the  dc^t  of 

the  iJhesapeake  was  strept,  jumped  on  bos^'%ith 

about  twenty  men.    They  WdiSdd  have  been  uuitant- 

It  repei^dVlnit^the  <^tiyln^^^£^^^^ 


•% 


'*«*„ 


M 


:UVAL    BATTLB8. 


■       :V 


tiuling-iiiaster,  the  boatswain,  the  lieutenant  of 
rinea,  the  only  acting  lieutenant  on  the  spar-deck, 
were  all  killed  or  disabled.  At  the  call  of  the  board*- 
«rs,  lieutenant  Cox  ran  on  deck,  but  just  in  time  t^ 
eceive  his  falling  commander,  and  bear  hitn  below*. 
Lieutenant  Budd,  the  second  lieutenant,  led  uj^  the 
boarders,  but  only  fifteen  or  twenty  would  follo#  hini, 
and  with  these  he  defended  the  ship  till  he  #aB 
wounded  and  disabled.  Lieutenant  Ludlow,  woUSi^ 
ed  as  he  was,  hurried  upon  deck,  where  he  soon  r%-, 
ceiFed  a  mortal  cut  from  a  sabre.  The  marines  wh0 
were  engaged  fought  with  desperate  courage;  bu| 
they  were  few  in  number ;  too  many  of  them  haying 
followed  the  Portuguese  boatswi|in's  mate,  who  ex- 
claimed. It  is  said,  as  he  skulked  below,  *  so  mueli 
for  not  paying  men  their  prize-money  * '  Meanwhile 
the  Shannon  threw  on  board  sixty  additional  men,  who 
soon  succeeded  in  oveirpowering  the  seamen  of  the 
Chesapeake,  who  had  now  no  office  to  lead  or  rallj 
them,  and  took  possession  of  the  sh^ ;  which  wal 
not,  however,  surrendered  by  any  signal  of  submiB- 
aioD,  but  became'die  enemy's  only  because  they  were 
able  to  overwhehn  all  who  were  in  a  coiiditien  t^ 
refist* 

«  As  obtain  Lawren<)e  was  carried  beIo»w,  he  pei^ 
ceived  the  melancholy  eondttion  of  the  QliaiapjBiili^ 
bat  ciM  out,  <  Dou't  Burvender  the  sh^',;  He  was 
taken  down  into  the  wifd-ioom,  and  aa  he.hif  hu  ex* 
cfudatli^  pain,  pefceivipg  that  the  of^fiboire  had 
caftsed,  he  oideied  1|w  «ITg9<»ti  to  go  en  4«Gk,  nod 
4tna  the  o%(Ni.JnJ«hi  M  ^  the  lail,  mA  mm 


KAVkL    BATTL18. 


96 


& 
t 


to 
I- 


ft* 

IS 
id 
HP 


.> 


. 


Strike  their  colours.  'They  shall  waye,'  said  he, 
"  while  I  tire.'  But  it  was  too  late  to  resist  or  to 
struggle  longer  ;  the  enemy  had  already  possession 
of  the  ship.  As  captain  Lawrence's  wounds  would 
not  allow  of  his  removal,  he  continued  in  the  ward- 
room, surrounded  by.  his  wounded  oflficers,  and,  jifter 
lingering  in  great  p^  for  four  days,  during  which 
hi}  suflferiiigs  were  too  acute  to  permit  him  to  speak, 
Oi^y' perhaps,  to  think  of  the  sad  cTents  he  had  just 
.  witnessed,  or  do  more  than  ask  for  What  his  situation 
required,  he  died  on  the  6th  of  June.  His  body  was* 
wrapped  m  the  colours  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  laid 
on  the  quarter  deck,  until  they  arrived  at  Halifax, 
where  he  was  buried  with  the  highest  military  and 
naval  honours ;  the  British  officers  forgetting  in  their 
admiraticm  of  his  character,  that  he  had  been  but 
lately  thehr  enemy.  His  pall  was  supported  by  the 
oldest  captains  in  the  navy  then  at  Halifax,  and  no 
demonstration  of  respectful  attention  was  omitted  to 
honour  the  reinainsofabrave,butunfortunate  stranger. 
v«(  In  this  sanguinary  engagement  the  Chesapeake 
tost  her  comUiander  and -forty-seven  men  killed,  and 
ninety-seTen  wounded,  of  whom  fourteen  afterwards 
died.  Among  these  were  lieutenant  Ludlow,  first 
lieutenant  of  the  ship,  and  fieutenant  Ballard,  the 
iburth  j^fp^n^t,  both  excellent  officers. 

«G.*.^of  .heSh«m»««pt.b.B»kew« 
dangerously  Wininded,  though  be  has  since  recorer- 
ed  ;  the  lilit  Untenant,  tlie  purser,  captain's  clerir 
and  twvi^^hree  seamen  killed,  and  fifty-seven  per 
sons  womMy  besides  cnptiun  Broke. 


I 


I 


I 


% 


/-4 


fl«».    II  i»Li«loii|*]i 


^' 


I 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


97 


^1 


le  of  the  Chesapeake  is  to  be  ascribed 

I  tho  ei^traoidinarjF  loss  of  offiem  (a  lofs 

fvecedeflti  as  fiur  aa.  we  can  i«iooi|sict»  In 

1X0  ipiF  to  her  ^^0|Wiiff  accidentally  on 

Piirpfitlie  three  broadsides, 

!  l)ie.QPsa{fenk«  were  living,  and 

V  th<^jWiii^,.44NB superiority  was 

Aia^etieans.    .'Pte  >C|Msapeake 

Ij  pn|iMt9ce,  n^hik)  the  Shan- 

»tf  )l|%^  WincI  tin^^  witer,  siiid 

be,  kept  afloat  dnring  the  sue- 

'.ytm'mAy  wintm  aioci^t  threw^ 

'M  itoM  Jlpe  Jiumnon^  whdl,  her 

weiWTiiiibre  to  le^  on  the  boiiiciers,  diat 

)k0  hittiseli;  timttary,  w^  believtf,  to  the 

of  the  Apitjiph  nairy,  Ic^  his  own  ship,  and 

p|w  the  Chesapeake* .  •; , 

'  ""iKr*^*^*^  which  we  |ii«| 
|conipefl^  to  believe,  ,^  improp^ 

M^r!)^.captpi^,4>9J^^  V«|i- 

*^e  <^tli^'  .thi(:igi«K,^.*^3Jw. 
iH>nie  aUowanoei  are.di^rip  the  eiM^ 


/ 


4.     ■ 


X'  .' 


NitVAIi    BATTUB8. 


n 


•mbhioii  of  the  country  is  bo  closely  Uendeiy  if  we 
oBitted  My  opportunity  of  ginng  the  Inet  end  fidr- 
oet  taetre  to  their  fame,  hy  oMitraeting  their  condoct 
with  thut  of  the  enen^,  pr  if  we  forbore,  Aoipi  any 
niiiplacedl  delicacy  tov^M^  our  adveraatfes,  to  report 
circumttanoee  connected  with  the  fate  of  the  Cheia- 
peake,  which  throw  a  broad  and  dazzling  tiglit  on  the 
generotti  magnanimity  of  pur  countrymen." 

«^ur  readers  cannot  have  fiuled  to  observe  the  U- 
*berality  which  was  extended  to  the  officers  and  crews 
of  the  ^Gaerriere,  Macedonian,  and  Java,. and  the 
still  more  striking  instance  of  the  Peecocfc.  ^*>Wlipn 
llie  Chesapeake  was  taken  V  the  SImubbom,  the  key 
of  ciptain  LwwreABe's  store  room  ivras  demanded 
of  the  purser.  ,.It  vrasglren ;  botthe  pursefvClMeKV'' 
«d  et  the  same  tjwse,  that  in  the  capture^  of  the  Oner? 
riere,  M&cedpniim,  and  Java,  the  n^ost  fcn^wlouf  vof 
gard  was  paid  $p  the  priviue  property  of  the  British 
olpQfire ;  jMlAl  eaptidii  Lawrenpe  had  laid  in  storps  £or 
alopig  crpjuse ;  >aiid  thet  the  value  of  thmn  wo«ld  be  a 
glnpt  )|^ec|  to  Jbis  wi4f^|V,l«i#iiqnly,  Jor  li^^^^W^ 
1ie;il^desirp^Mpps#le,ofpreseiir^  'W^ 

iefiieMt  inran ,  im  l^erely  decMned  ;  it  wae  liingli^ 
'li^  sitperfsiyeiis^.^Dissed.  Hv  .^  m/tl  - 

.  ««Hi^irever^ii^|i!l^r|DOom  the  w^sr^of  thni 
#y,^^  IpBSf  j^  tMf  jDheu^^  l^  not,!!^  /enr  esti^ 
iBati!M|,,:ifil^  tli«B  relatwe  ^tandiii^  <^t^ 
llie  t^ivo  couotnes  -  nor  does  itjsbai^Jin,tl|ii|||ig||^ 
i|sgree,  any  of  the  Minm  of  fm  navid,^rei|^B«ip(|^»is.: 
contest  was  whol^|i|M^|ii|l^^,  iigi||||»  li 
in  officers,  ia  efer^^iyiig. 


9^  *  JC 


'!/ 


«' 


•    NATAL    BATTLIf.  ff 

**  The  llhuiiMm  was  a  better  tiiip ;  the  had  aoe 
upon  her  the  ciuie  of  that  ill^^eineiied  nane,  th^ 
C^lesipeakei  The  Shannon  waen  stronger  ship ;  she 
fbootfted  twenty-eight  eighteen  poonders  on  the  main 
dedL,  twenty-two  thirty-two  pounil  carronades,  and 
two  long hrass  nine  or  twelres,  on  the  spar  deckhand  a 
hiige«arronade  amidships,  in  aH  fifty-two  gnns,  be- 
sides this  last  heavy  carronade ;  while  the  Chesapeake 
modttted  twenty-eight  eighteen  poonders  on  the  main 
deck,  and  twenty  thirty-two  pound  canonades,  and 
one  eighteen  poonders  chase  gun,  on  the  iipar  deck,  in 
all  forty-nine  gunsi 

*'  Thi  Shannon  had  a  better  crdw.  Besidek  her 
complement  she  had  seamen  from  two  other  ships. 
That  crew,  too,  had  been  long  at  sea;  lokig  in  the 
ship ;  were  known ;  were  tried ;  aiid  as  commodore 
Broke  sent  achsllenge,  were^  of  ciMitle,  men  on 
ifirhom^  if  they  weteHot  picked  for  the  oocii^en,  he 
knew  lie  could  confide;  The  Chesap^e  had,  isn 
the  contrary,  in  pibrt;  a  new^ci^,  ii^no#n  Id  Hlbhr 
oflicers,  not  yet  knoWhlg  their  places  or  the  ihip. 
Hie  shi^  had*  not  been  more  thah  a  few  honfl  at 
sei^  alid  thi  kndsiiifeii  Md  the  landsWbmeil  had  been 
dismissed  from  her  on  the  Verf  day  of  the  enia|^ 
iA6at.  ThiEi  bfficeii,  too,  alth«iti|h  we  shew  be 
tl^  laiittc^dcltfict  from  thelriberits,  tM  ttlthongh^ 
maniw»r  In  ^^di^thliy  fought  idteii"  jjiifr  dbei'  Mliill 
the  higlttst  1idh<^,  tiie  officers  irere  yoitof^  mi  Mf 
in  limiftir;  kiid  Iftd  as  fti  m^  %  opptMoiiity  <^ 
IHsclpliii%  Of  knowh%  their  s^afisei;  yet,  MMr - 
all  these  disadyantag^,  the  great  diiiige  snslilnil- 


.^ 


4 


100 


MA?AL    BATTLES. 


•  - 

bjr  the  Shannon,  and  the  great  lou  of  her  crew, 
all  which  took  phice  before  the  bdardingi  warrant 
completely  the  opinioot  tbat^  but  for  the  accidei|tal 
loaa  of  officers,  the  ▼ictory  would  hate  been  with  the 
Chesapeake."*    ' 

Mr.  Crowninshield,  of  Salem,  obtained  a  flag  of 
truce  for  the  purpose  of  conreying  to  the  United 
States  the  bodies  of  Lawrence  and  Ludlow,  which 
he  performed.  On  his  return  to  Salem,  the  bodies 
of  the  departed  heroes  were  conveyed,  with  the  most 
afiecting  ceremonies,  from  the  cartel  to  the  shore^ 
From  the  time  the  boats  left  the  brig,  until  the  bo- 
dies were  landed,  minute  guns  were  fired  from  die  ves- 
sels in  the  harbour.  When  placed  upon  the  hearses^ 
they  Were  covered  with  the  colours,  which  they 
had  io  lately  and  so  signally  honoured,  and  moved 
to  a  convenient  distance  for  the  proceision  to  form*, 
which  moved  to  solemn  musfck,  to  the  meetinghouse. 
The  corpses  were  then  placed  in  the  centare  of  th^ 
church,  by  the  seameii  who' rowed  them  to  the 
shore,  and  who  stood,  during  the  whole  of  the  ser^ 
▼ie^^  ieanittg  tipon  theitt  in  an  attitude  of  mournhig. 
The  church  was  hung  with  cypnis  litld  evergreen^ 
The  names  of  LAWRBifCfi  and  LuiiLbw  appeared 
in  letters  ofgold,  enciribl^d  by  feistoon^of  evergreen, 
immediately  iif  ftoiit  df'  the  desk.  An  ie^ogy  was 
pronounced  by  the  honoliirabtbjiirdge  Story.;/^  Alter  ths 
performtoces  in  the  m^^etiligfabuse,  the  li^ilDen  con- 
.^veyed  the  remains  to  ih^  tbitib,  wiiere  dicr  iiiaicmick 
)e  Micieties  and  military  cdii|)ii,  pidd  the  list  ritual  hohl- 
.  agieP  to  the  illustrious  d^Ji|;*     '^ 


# 


t  I 


MATAL    BATTLES. 


101 


Th«  bodiei  of  the  deceaaed,  at  the  reqaett  of  thei? 
reletlfef,  were  afterwards  carried  to  New  York,  and 
interred  with  the  respect  due  to  brave  men,  sacrific- 
ed in  defence  of  their  country. 


m;- 


OOM.  DBOATim  BLOCKADED  nrMW  UOVDOW, 

In  the  earl  J  part  of  the  summer,  (1819,)  commo- 
dore Decatur,  in  the  frigate  United  States,  accom- 
panied bjr  the  Macedonian,  captain  Xones,  and  the 
(doop  of  war  Hornet,  put  to  sea  from  New  York. 
But  a  very  superior  force,  consisting  of  line  of  battle 
ah^  and  frigates,  hove  in  sight  and  gave  chase  im- 
mediatelj  after  he  left  port.  The  American  squad* 
ron  was  fortunate  enough  to  reach  the  harbour  of 
New  London,  where,  for  the  remainder  of  the  sum- 
mer, they  were  blockaded,  without  any  thing  inter- 
esting occurring  except  an  attempt  made  to  blow  up 
i<^lie  of;the  £i|gli|h  vessels  by  %  fireship.  The  fire- 
ihip  wipja^^  theE;agle,^^a^  for  the  pur- 

poee  >y,|ohn  Icud^^^^  It  was  suj^ioied  thajt  on  her 
being  afp^ni^fjri^l^  be  talieii^alang  side  one 
<#  the  v^ss^  of  war«  vifhe^  in  att^pting  to  unlade 
her,  a  jmii^en^  oUmt 

conlbustdlf^  would  l|ive  been  set  da  fire^  The  at- 
tempt was  made  in  the  month  of  jTune*  IShe  was 
taken  possession  of  by  the  British ;  but  blew  up  bo- 


t 


m 


HATAL    BATTLS8. 


foitt  «h^  got  alongside  iuiy  of  their  large  tiaielt.  Al 
iki  time  of^explosion,  ibur  beats  t.  ere  seen  alOiig^4itt 
wIM  were  all,  with  tHe  men  on  boaid  tlieiB»  4il^ 
tfi6)red.  It  is  supposed  that  upwards  df  one  hundM 
of  die  BHtish  perished. 


■f'li  ey\ia    ■■*r:f  t?"'*'<'tf>,T*"^ 


*.i.aY   . 


It 
-'J 


/ 


,:■■*? 


4-/>r 


QiJPTUItS  OF  TiOS  £4CUUB. 


k. 


In  the  mopith  of  July,  a  Ming  smaoh  wasienl  by 

|^|MllilQ0d0l9  l^ewisi  of  New  YoiIl,  for  tH^  pqrpoa«  ^ 

^p||iturijig  hf  stratagem  ^ejrio^lBagtei  II  ti^4ef«€ 

^■0^  FoH^r%  a  British  y^isel  of  seyei^^four  gups. 

Ilie  9ma<(»  was  b^isrowed  6f  so)|ie  ishermen.    A 

ci0r^  f/i^mt^^  Spf^  WW  p«i  o«  Iwaii,'*  1^^ 

tw^o  i^y  ?md  forty  men  i^reU  armed  w#»^i^ 

#ere  ««»rot0d  i^^^^l^  ^IWfiff^  foi^  peak  of  1^ 

mfu^  J^^  prej^ured,  she  st^  aea  as  j^ 

gfpioaa  fifihi^  OillytkMie 

mfitf;  i^arfdfp^Kpi^.difss^  as  Qilinite%  ,1^ 

1^  on  p<^}fgi|pig  ttjie  fmai^, j^  «h»iie.    After 

"l^il;  '^^^  jW|^  ^  ^a^Qi^ipg|^|jif»i  ^^i^och;iii- 

^;:^0)(^i(^  l^wii'itojtiM^oanii^ 

ipa^  aloi^  fi4o  #e  pgle,  09|'4^^N» 
gpie%«iid  m  armpd  Mn  a«uM  ojadiokrliom  l«f 


«x 


# 


\l 


rULWAh  BATTLK8« 


IM 


l0w ;  and  peuied  a  voMey  of  miulietry  imo  dia  tan^ 
4aK ;  whioli  drove  her  ciew  below^  wHh  so  anioli  pie- 
ctj^taacy,  tliat  they  had  not  tine,  to  ttrika  hei  col- 
aufB.  ;^  floon  aa jailing  master  Paieival,^  who  com- 
muiided  the  smack,  perceived  the  <dach  of  the  Brit- 
ish vessel  cleared,  he  ordered  his  men  to  cease  fir- 
ing. Upon  which  one  of  the  Eagle's  crew  appeared 
on  deck,  and  struck  -her  colours.  The  Eagle  was 
wahly  taken  into  New  York.*  ^ 


I 


THIRD  OfttJISE  OF  THE  PBESIDKNT 

On  ji^pd  of  Api^lt  1813,  commodore  Rodgetl 
to  fiea  fipoin  Boston,  in  the  IVfttpdeat  frigate,  «e* 
emafanied  by^t^  Congroui,,  o^aMJ^^ 

it|u  ^  the^h  he  took  hu  d«MrtBi«  fr^ 
•ident  road.  Oni  tha^^  of  Majy  while  in  anaie 
of  a  British  brig  of  war,  near  dHB  shoal  of  Geotge^ 
Bank,  they  passed  to  windward  of  ^iree  sail^oiia  of 
which  was  supposed  to  be  the  La  Hoguet  seveitJN. 
Imut^  the  btibsrs,  t^  Nymph^^^^^^  and  a  meitfaanf 
Vrigl  ''^'Mt^^mma^  clear  of  €ieoq|[e^  Bank,  ^mjf 
cqnrirad'uoB^  soqjtiMiaatwai^j,  in  tlie  difeeiinn  crff 

May,^w^  i^;  Pi^sn^^  pai^iGralii'tha  Goagiani^' 
CoaniilaiB-RbdM  shmed:  iua  oanne,  as  alehv 

aaiha  wiiid  ^mmld  peiinit,  to  mikttmifit  tha  eaiwf^ 


104 


If  AVAL  •  BATTLES. 


>■. 


W«si  india  coininiBroe,  |iasii]ig  to  the  MttthwaliiM 
thuGraiid  Bank.  Not  meeting  with  any  thing4li 
this  direction,  except  Anwiean  vessels  from  Lishdn 
and  Cadiz,  he  changed  bis  course  to  the  northwtud. 
iHaving  reached  the  forty-eighth  degree  of  north  lit- 
itude,  he  steered  for  the  Axores,  off  which  he^enli 
tinned  in  different  directions  till  the  6ih4f'JiMie, 
without  meeting  any  British  vessels.  Being  inform- 
ed >y  an  American  vessel  j  that  four  days  previcms 
she  had'  passed  a  British  convoy  from  the  West  In- 
dies, the  commodore  crowded  all  sail  bi  chase  to 
northeast*  Though  disappointed  in  fallmg  in  with  the 
convoy,  he  neVerdieless  captured  four  vessels. 

Being  then  in  latitude  forty-six  northf  ldim|liide 
•twenty^ei^t  west,  he  determined  to  proceed  to  ^e 
Noclii  Sea.  He  however  did  not  meet  with  a  rinj^e 
vessel  until  off  the  Shetland  Isliiads,  and  those^e 
there  met  with  were  Danish^  under  British^  Heeiise. 
Hia  fwater  and  provisions  being  now  nearly  ef3dl4ust- 
ed^  he  potu' into  .North  Bergen,  in  Norway>  ^on  ^e 
27tb  of  Jotte«i  A  scarcity  in  the  country '  prevelifild 
^hisobtaiiikigprQivisioiis*^^  After  havii^filledliiieiiihs 
with  water,  bet  departed  on  the  2iof  July,  towards 
the  Orkaey  i  Isiandt^  and^  thence  towudi  tive  North 
Ca^,  fiir  /the  purpofte  of  iartere^ti^g  a  etmvoy^%l 
twenty*^ve  brithivty  sail,«whieH^'it  in»  ss^ 
leave  Atcb^oigelmbeii^  Um  «iiddle  of  Ja^'itaiet  tMe 
prote^hM  of  two  jslqapeiif  watv  ISiii^ww^liiaiiii- 
ed  by  twb'veiseto  he!0^p«if«dion^ie^M^^€^7i^ 
montb^  In  tbis,<h|i«reven^^<bereQiiiiaoddia  ^^ 
ippointed'by  a  iev«iUjMMdid*llrigat#  aMbig  th^ir 


I 


.aWXiiM. 


nJkfAL  BJJTUCS. 


Hm^ 


011 

id. 
il- 

Ml' 

TO- 
MS 

[n- 

to 

the 


1 


! 


a^«aniiiea  oft  iMwikCvpt  on  the  19th  of  lidy^  Jost 
as  h«^  was  in  moniantarj  expectation  of  meeting  the 
.  conypy.  On  first  disoorerin^  ^  these  two  vessels, 
iOWing  to  the  haziness  of  the  weather^  he  eoiild  not 
flfcftrtain  their  <|haraieter  with  preciskm.  He  accoid- 
Jliglj  stood  towards  them  imtil<  he  >  discovered  their 
^gtMngth^  when  he  hauled  by  the  wind  on  the  op- 
;^osite  lack  to  avoid  them.  But  owing  to  faint  vari- 
ahle  wind«i  and  light  for  an  entire  day,  for  in  that 
latitude  and  season  the  sun  appeared  above  the  hori- 
^Eonat  imdnight,  the  British  vessels  were  enabled  to 
continue  the:  chase  upwards  of  ei^ty  hours.  At 
tiipes,  owing  to  changes  of  the  wind  in  favour  of  the 
Bntish  vessels,  ihoy  were  brought  near  to  the  Presi- 
dent.;^ When  th^ise  vessels  ^e  chase  to  the  Presi- 
,4<9i>tt  Iht  pnvateerScoUfge  of  liiHir;  York  was  in  com- 
po^Ji  ,Ht  so  Inteni  were  the  Britiih  in  .^  iheir  chase 
t^iif^  {0TmBXi  iknu,  the  latter  escaped. 

liavln^  bu|  a  verystnall  qimntiiy,  of  provisions  On 
board  hi9,ve^0l,  cominodore Jtodgers  determikxedto* 
|ip!P9jB9d,  to  la jnore  weiter)y^ station  after  having  es- 
f  j^lped  .Irom  the  superior  British  force  that  so  long 
i^if^yied  him*  He  aocordiliglyj^t^red  to  intercept 
^lii^fffide  pnisiijig  oirt 

wlfapB^xon.;t]patS^  July  aiid^^fd  of  August  he 
ilMide  tjlufee  ^^ij^rei  |iibut  taceivin^informadoa  that 
t^  Jti^ipIlM  a^i^^ 

4fi^n^<^  it  e3fp|i^<«pt  tp  ch«|ge  his  cruising  fepond. 
^^I^f^llfijqi^  ma^  %(jb^,ioinMl:lrdattd)^imdh^ 
bg  comfipl^  |he  ^tMad^s  of  C^sie  Qlear^he  iteered 
tor  the  fi«iM  of  Newlbiitt^and)  near  to  which  he 
14 


106 


VA'  :<L;  ,mjkmMM* 


csptofod  two  iiio:#  ^.  Mb  t  horn  one  of  tlleie  bo  ob^ 
funed  informiitiow  L^  the  BellefoplKNii  a  fofeatj- 
fenr,  and  the  HypsncA  fripte,  were  on  the  eaatorft 
part  of  ^e  bank,  only  a  few  miles  to  the  westwani 
of  him.  Ho  howevoi  did  not  iatt  in  witii^  ^en& 
Ffoni  this  place  the^ooauaodore  diroeted  Inscniise 
to  the  Ufllted  8tetds,  withovt  seeing  a  sin^  TetoelE 
nntit  ^  22d  ei  September,  wben^  bmng  near  dm 
south  ahoal  of  Nantnehet^  he  met  with  a  SNvedirii 
brig,  and  American  candle  By  thia  time  the  pron4 
nons^  and  parlladarlf  tlm:  bread  on  board-^eiJE^sil 
dent,  was  so  nearly  expended,  that- it  became 'jn£n» 
pensaMy  necessaiy  for  the  commodore  to  put  into 
tbe  first  convenient  port,  after  obtaining  information 
of  liie  position  of  the  British^cmisers.  This  he  oil* 
tained  by  the  capture  of  his  Britanick  Majesty^s 
schooner  High  I^er,  on  the  23d,  with  which  vess^ 
he  arrived  safe  itH6v»poart. ' 

Dnring^tins  crniie  ooAmPd^  ^odgersr.  ^^^ 
twelve  vessels  of  Jiln^Jie  cii^wiit^^i^ 
%iai^^  imd  sevnaiyrOiin  >PfBr^^ 
filfy  effB<^u^  sfifiev  ti^  hi  #^^ 
t&e  Biltish  cotnmei^^  imi  jRiira^  ihm  t^detaeb€ 
gi0ar  nimrilker  o^>th9ir  veiiels  ^  war  In  an  .il«m|fs- 
6Bssfid-plirsl)##7-^^'''v  ' ;./-;'  t|w>.^|;/|^^jr  trvll^  ,k/'C'  ;'V?  ri 


It  is  a  circumaiiiao^  aoinewhiit  ^i^pal^fi^l^  sin^ 

dm  ren0#9P^lM  ^  BMVide^ 

ere  has  never  metpM^^^^Qgli^aEi^^^^ 
in  cdrnpany  with  a  ielrentHbur ;  p^^ 
praised  in  lis  Slilt^lini  ^p^ 
^   ^  01«tk*i  Mifill  filsloi7>  Tall  ^  SIS— gH 


..I. 


■ 

\ 


! 


IfiMr At.   BATTUeiw 


ttfl 


^  ikoMflf  BiribilinittA  Itelaiid;  fie  twice  tnYtntk 
orer  nidire  than  liaif  tbe  globe,  witiimit  fneetiiig  a 
B?itiili<^  frigate ;  aii#  tlioiigh  he  fooght  them  in  their 
own  fiemsf  and  along"  their  own  ihores,  he  never  had 
Ike  #w4'ft>rtiui#^^  bring  one  el  them  to  action^ 
¥et^  With  aU  tidi>'  eooiteodeM  Hodgei*  faaa  anffered 
no^'dimifl^^imiof .repMtation.  It  ia  eieditable  t»  the 
AmeiiMai  chamcterv  to  cheridb  and  uphold  the  high 
lepirtatlili  of  a  rm^ijitorioiia;  .^ficMr^  notwithstanding 
oi^portunitiea  have  noit  been  given  fakn  to  diaplajr 
sMU  mA  pfOwesa  mgtha^  an  espial  fioice  of  the 


J  J    i-tti  ■'•»,<,•!,; 


■•''   :-%J    :ji} 


%^Ite  Congiiiii^  af%ei  p^  wi^  thcf  Ptei^deht, 
eii^  8th^  of  iiiiy,^pic#6^  diire^ 

iim^^the  Mfmtli^  <^i^  ^paaiinjg 

Ihevetliieaii  dsiit  df  Bflo^  aft^lhenkr  hoiiiewardv 

deiteoyied^  albr  tahilig  ont  the  most  laluable  part  of 

'thiliiMll^  inrison^ 

eia,  yffbii^^^in^pas^se^^^^  hi  Fofttmoutii 

hnihiiite^:thP^^MM^t>i^^ 


yl     iJ 


108 


NAVAL    BATTLES* 


i.-t 


ARGUS  AND  PEUOAN. 

Gaptaiit  Allen,  id  the  brig  Argns,  nildl  from 
Ihel^lj^  States  im  France,  havfaig  on  b0i|d  Mr. 
:43i!9rar|M»  minister  to  the  court  of  Parish  lik'  May, 
181di.    He  arrived  there  in  the  short  pfisige  of 
tRventj-three  days,  during  which  he  captMiid  and 
destroyed  a  British  schooner  of  six  guns.  ^  ^^^  ' 
^  After  remaining  at  JLi'Orient  a  few  days,  he  {sro- 
ceeded ona  cruise  in  the  Bri^h  cbanner,  ivhrisrC^he 
captured  twenty  £;nglish  vesiels ;  tlie^ews  giw^ 
he  treated  with  humanity  and  gelitaidr;^  ^^^^   ,. 
'The  injury  which  capttiin  Allied 
commerce  is,  in  some  of  their  papersy^slin^ 
^amount  of  two  mittl^.    W'^Uo  |joa|dfQ^'^in 
burdng,  sinlung  imd  d<m  en^ny^jproper- 

^1^  J^  wns  peculiaiiy  carcrfkdii»Ndistin|%hM  chi^ 
a^tc^r  from  those  who  depredated  for  selfish  poiposes 
only.  The  property  jf  the  piassengers  was  sacred 
Irom  hostility  ;  not  an  artiit^e^  of  v^at  kind  W^^  he 
^er  to  jie  tiMH^hed.  The  pws0^r^  wete  ^Ibwed 
tp  go  belo^i  nivl  to  tal^  1i*nt  th^  dai^  as 
^Mr  »wn#Jupii|^i^J^^ 
P^ipij^ed  tolnlyi^lbem  w^ 

On  oDo  oeoai^^^  1^^ 
surtoot  h^^lii^lirw^^ 

tm  waa^^iHm^  of 

his  liands,  who  #n9^iBeted^iiir let  of  s^^ 


I.' 


5^Hii' 


tlAYAL  BATTLES. 


109 


4 

•»           .<! 

i 

i 

•' 

0 

i. 

■• 

» 

• 

^ 

• 

f 

r 

4 

,  • 

^^' 


?# 


110 


H     '\  hATttin. 


•is 


■iMi^ 


pUuMler  of  this  luiid>  \9  be  flogged  at  tiiiB  gang#i!f. 
Utt  English  papett,  if^'JiUe  thejr  wer0  wridlfaig  under 
tiM  severe  injuries  thai  Inllicted,  wtft^  ^umuiinioufl  in 
liieir  testimonials  of  ixsspect  to  the  cdndlict  of  this 
gallaHt  officer,  for  the  humanity  and  d^^kKcy  with 
which  he  performed  a  service  so  invidKoiib.  Prbbabljr 
■D  action  of  his  life  ccild  more  pliiiaiy;  dliiingiiisli 
his^sbaracter  than  this:  he  loved  danger  it  much  as 
he  abiiorred  to  plunder  .he  defenceless. 

On  the  14th  of  Ai^iidt,  being  In  latitildi  Ifty-i^O 
degrees  fifteen  minutes  ndrth,  bnghilde  ive   de- 
grees fifty,  minutes  w6st,  lie  dlsooreredi  at  four 
o'clock,  A.  M.  a  large  brig  of  wii,  stuilBlii  doii^i 
under  a  press  of  sail  upesi  the  Weath^  qMiMr  i>f  thd 
Argus.    Captain  A)%«Mttediately|t«^|^ 
oeiveher;  and  bdif  lii»Me^|;^  tl^  #yi|fe 
he  shortened  sdl^siid  gave  her  vi^oplM^^ 
dosing.    At  six  #^eldcir«  iiM$  brig 
English  colours,  tiie  A^glit  ImiIs^  ibi' 
4^  Ihig,  woie  round,  and  gave  her^  th^ 
ode,  being  at  tb&  titiad  wUb^  gra^  dl^^ci,^^^^ 
was  fetmied,  ani  tl^^c^olr  toani^^  MJlih^^^  t^ 
range  of  nuudustry.  A  '  ew  liih|t#s  pHi  ilX|  captain 
Alien  #«B  woonded ;  i  id,  b^igiDinieh  ^iimiited  bjr 
the  lees  if  Hloii^  il^  :|aLa^  ^iir;    At  tidp  timej 
the  A^gttw  hid  ^  Uti  mi^  bftMaBS,  m^  i|a4igstay, 
gafl^aoid  try^Rli  mm,  anil  dioitlf  ^  ^t- 

itm0*  ^flW  pii^pitf 'p«rt1^  ^  )4ittrmi  the. 


Iv 


..utra^-tfyfy 


;«■ 


by 


.  1 


1I4TAL    BATTLES. 


Ill 


woliad  00  tlM  he«d  finon  a  grape  ihot,  which,  for  a 
tnne,  rmdafed  him  incapable  of  attanding  to  duty, 
and  he  waa  also  oanlad  balow.  The  oomqiaBd  now 
deyolved.iipoa  lieutenant  Allen  ;  the  enemy,  being 
9^  the  weather  quarter  of  the  Argiu,  edged  off,  for 
the  purpose  ef  getting  under  her  stem*  but  the  Aigus 
(ff|sttated  his  att#mpt  by  giving  him  a  broadside. 
Aboufhajtf  past  i  six,  the  Argus,  hating .  lost  the 
use  of  her  afternnuls  fell  before  the  wind,  when  the 
enemj  SQoqfeded  in  passing  her  stem,  and  ranged 
upon  the  starboaid  side.  The  Wheel-n^s,  and 
rigging  of  e?ery  desorqptiQn  being  shot  away,  the 
Aigus  became  unmanageable ;  and  the  enemy,  not 
having  sustained  jliy  apparent  damage,  had  it  com- 
p|etel7i^;h^  If^et  jte  ^choose  a  position.  By  this 
advantiige  h0  profited,  and:  coatinned  to  play  iqmn 
^ f^UilbOfMrd,^^^^  shifting  his  sltua- 

&»^^hetijie«t0n«ta; Watson  returned  to  the. deck, 
|^..pTq|ia«M;to  tmai^  t)ie  enemy ;.  but,  in  conse- 
qpiieipi^e  cffi  the;|l)iatter^  condition  of  the  Argus, 
iua|>le  lio  f isct  it.  ..,  AftiNt  this,  the  British  cotftinued 
i  inking  w^  be  but  ft^ptly  opposed,  the 

gui^i^  of  the  !^gus  being  much  disi^b|ed,  and  seldom 
1^|ii^^]^)iettr^  H  ^fiered,in  the  hull  and 

Hgg^  j^  also  m>  lulled  end  woun^edi  and  being 
likiposed^  ay^  from, J^  enemy's 

ability  to^mfUplige*  egn^  iim  hs^  ^^roidol,  yenl^muit 
Watson  4<^me4  it  pBoessasyj^^^  The  A^- 

1^  waa  %|  fakenJp^^ 
if  war  Pelican,  gf  twe)it]r^oo|^|prriiige  guna 
i|i|Ben  Uiifty^  )pqu|^  ^  kmg  i 


%i 


112 


NATAL  ^BATTLES. 


t 


■'^»i:^ 


apd  one  twelve  pound  canonade,  commanded  l»f 
captain  Maples.  The  Argus  carried  eighteen  twev^- 
ty-four  pounders,  and  two  long  twelves. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Pelican,  as  stated  iu  the 
British  official  account,  was  eight  in  killed'  and 
wounded. 

The  loss  in  the  Argus  was  six  killed  and  twelve 
wounded.  .  Five  of  the  wounded  died  soon  after, 
among  whom  was  captain  Allen,  who  lost  his  leg  at 
the  second  broadside,  and  died  the  next  day. 

It  would  be  ui^ust  to  the  feelings  which  are  revir- 
ed  by  the  preceding  account,  and  ungrateful  to  the 
memory  of  a  braver  and  distinguished  officer,  to  re- 
cord in  our  pages  only  the  circumstances  which  coet 
him  his  life,  and  his-  countrymen  so  mueh  pqigntei^ 
regret.  Tlie  prominent  traits  of  his  character,  and 
the  hoiiours  paid  to  Jiis  'remainfl,  in  a  foreign  laad^^ 
and  by  those  who  were  lus  adversairiefl  in  war,  should 
beoo-exteniive  with  every  register  of  naval  achieve* 
ments. 

TJ^e  following  letter  from  John  Hawker,  Esq. 
d-devwnt  American  consul^  wUI  be  read  with  interest. 

PUjrmoutliyAugiiit  19,  1813. 

SiR.«^*^l%e  Station  I  have  had  the  hjonour  to  hold 
for  many  y^lvpast^  of  American  vice^onsul,  calls 
fofdi  my  poignant  feelings  in  the  cdtiiimunication' I 
have  to  nrake  to  yira  of  the  death  of  jmat  son,  ci^ 
tain  Allen,  hite  commander  of  the  United  States  bdg 
of  war  Argus,  which  vessel  wai  e«ptuiedov  Satur- 
day last,  in  the  Irish  channeir  itfiter  a  ver)^V|rp'ie- 


i 

V 
i 
I 
8 

a 

I 

'n 

r 
s 

I 

G 

r 

1 
c 


^iL 


NATAL  BATTLBt. 


lis 


1  the 
■nd 

mitt 
iTter, 
Bgat 

eyrr- 
D  the 
o  re- 
;  cost 

^  and 
laiid^ 
uNikl 
ieve* 

£iq. 
rest. 

IS. 

held 
calls 


■*'A\ 


itiir- 


tkte  of  three  quarters  of  an  hoar,  by  his  Britannick 
miyesty's  ship  Pelican. 

Early  in  the  action  he  lost  his  left  leg,  but  refiised 
to  be  carried  below,  till  from  loss  of  blood  he  fainted. 
Messrs.  Edwards  and  Delphj,  midshipmen,  and  four 
seamen  were  tkilled ;  and  lieutenant  Watson,  the 
carpenter,  boatswain,  boatswain's  mate,  and  seren 
men  wounded.  Captain  Allen  submitted  to  amputa- 
tion abore  the  knee,  while  at  sea.  He  was  jester- 
day  morning  attended  bj  yerj  eminent  surgical  gen- 
tlemen, and  removed  from  the  Argus  to  the  hospital, 
where  every  possible  attention  and  assistance  would 
have  been  afibrded  him  had  he  survived ;  but  which 
was  not,  from  the  first  moment,  expected,  from  the 
shiBttejred  state  of  his  thigh.  At  eleven,  last  night, 
he  breathed  his  last !  He  was  sensible,  at  intends, 
until  mlHikm  tin  minutes  of  his  dissolution,  when  he 
sank  exhausted,  and  expired  without  a  struggle! 
His  kicki^  intervals  were  very  cheerful,  and  he  was 
satisfied  and  fully  sensible  that  no  advice  and  assist-  ^ 
anee  would  be;  wanting.  A  detaohed  room  was  pre- 
pared by  the  eonunissary  and  chief  Si^geon,  and  fe- 
male attendants  engaged,  that  every  tenderness  and 
respect  might  be  experienced.  The  master,  purser 
surgoout  and  oiM  midshipman,  accpinpi^ied  captain 
Allen,  who  was  also  attended  l^  hb  ini|gj|iiiiiiiu 

I  have  ccin^i^^cfl^ted;  and.  aAanged  jimlk  the  offi- 
cers resp^^^tlMS  imeialy  Whieh  will  be;in  the  most 
re9pectj&]4<aDd  at  the,  saoie  time  economical  manner, 
tlie  pbrtiidi|4)»l  hi^  signified  that  if  is  the  intention 
of  Jiis  Brit^il^icl  majetityfi  g|^|||iient>  ^at  it  be 


r 


) 


lU 


If ATU*  BATTLM. 


,->^"t' 


ivjblieklj  tttendad  bj  oiBc«n  of  rank,  and  with  mili- 
tary honouri.  The  time  fixed  for  procesiion  if  oo 
Satordaji  at  eleren*  a.  m.  A  lietttenaat-colooeFt 
guard  of  the  rojal  marinei  is  alio  appoiatedt  A 
wainieoat  cofim  has  beea  ordered;  on  the  breaat 
plate  of  which  will  be  inicribed.  u  below.*  Mr. 
Delphj,  one  of  the  midshipmen,  who  lost  both  legs, 
and  died  at  sea,  was  buried  yesterday  in  St  Andrew'* 
churchyard.  I  have  requested  that  captain  Allen 
may  be  bqhed  as  near  him,  on  the  right  (in  the  same 
▼ault,*  if  practicable,)  as  possible. 

I  remain,  respectfully,  sir»  your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant: 

(Signed)  JOHN  HAWKER, 

Cidevant  Am^riean  vic^-^sonaii 
Tls  Our.  Aluw,  fce.  Im.  he,  Ph»f idmoe,  ft.  I.  . 

On  the  21st  of  August,  a^reably  to  previous  ^ 
rangement;  the  remabs  of  the  depfqied  AUjen  wer« 
interred  at  Plymouth.  The  fpUowing  was  the  order 
of  the  iimeral  procession* 


nioosdsiofr. 

Ckiard  tft  Hbeovr. 
IiisrtftMitpcolqprt  «f  ioj«l  mwiaAS, 
wUh  two  compsniM  of  tbat  corpi^    , 
I,  iilbiltepit  and  field-a^iutuit  (04 
with*liat-buidf  uhI  acarft.) 
^        Rojrid  mwritaa  band. 


Tho 


'  ''.iT'i.'*-'  i 


■%'•  ■ 


* 


^  ^  1lMl|i&,^«lk^MMi  «ffi/be  veooiM  the 


¥^ 


be  eoiitnTed>  aa  I  Jkift  abi 


mtnTed>  aa  I  Ikiftaiiltaatad  ;  Mti  hafioff 


NATAL    BAT    Jtfk 


116 


bfk 


•^K 


fkir  Ml  0«f«l«  of  I  ! 
Okrkof  i^fko, 

Willi  tk«  eorpM  of  th<  <k  oanatd  oAptate, 
Atimhd  byiglit  ■>mw,  late  of  th        ^,  wMi  erift  rooad 

tiMir  uaBi,  IM  witk  wUl«  a^  q  ribbon. 

A|w»  oifhA  JMlioh  oopUuM  oif  tho  ro/ol  nuff,  m  poll  btoroto, 

wkb  htl-baado  tod  ocorfr. 

Ooptaio  AUon*o  Mrfuto  in  mounjinf . 

Tm*.  ^  '  '91     lato  of  (bo  Arf  no,  in  nnifonn,  witb  cropo  saoboo 

and  bol-baadi)  two  and  (wo. 
*>a     Hawkw,  Eaq.  lato  AaMrioaa  tjoo  eoaoul,  and  bit  olorlu, 

Captain  Polio  wo,  firwamiiainnar  for  priaontra  of  war. 
,  ^.  M'Oradkf  ebiof  medieal  offioor  at  Milt  PriM>n  dopol. 
'        Cqitaina  of  tbe  royal  naTji  in  port,  two  and  two 
Followod  bj  a  Torj  nunMrona  and  ri^tootablo 
rodnoo  of  inbahiNnln» 

« 

The  proceukm  left  Mill  PfisMi  «t  twelve  o'dook. 
The  coffin  wae  ooYered  with  a  Tehet  pall,  cm  which 
was  spread  the  Americas  eoiigB,  imder  which  thp 
action  was  fought,  and  on  that  the  hat  and  sword  of 
ihe  deeeasdd  Wttfe  laid.  On  the  coflni  bnng  reasoT* 
ed  to  the  hearse,  the  guard  sakited ;  tmd  when  de- 
posited in  the  hoarse*  the  prooeasion  mofed  forward, 
the  band  played  the  '*  Dead  march  in  Sauk"  On 
their  anrimi  near  tho  church,  'the  guard  haltod  and 
ckibbod  arqis^  siagle  files  inwasd,  t^urawh  wthich  the 
pFiK^dssSbn  ^passed  to  ^phttrohi  intowJillNliii  corpse 
was  carried,  and  d^pofited  in  tka  osntre  wiih,  whilst 
thefimeial  safvice  was  read  ^hj  the  leverend  vicai^ 
aft«  whkkii  waa  MMwod  Bad  uMeoNi^lnitfae  aonth 
yiiit  (p<tMiag  thioii|^  ^  gmd  the  same  ^esdor 
bmnui^itm^kmkt  ^tlha^iiiht  4f  Ms.  Deiflff, 


116 


NAVAL    BATTLlSi 


iu 


rnidshipmaii  of  the  Argus,  who  lost  both^his  legs  ip 
the  same  action,  and  Was  buried  the  preceding  ere- 
ning. 

Thus  lived  and  thus  died  William  Henry  Allen. 

By  the  company  and  conversation  of  the  elegant 
and  polite,  the  hard  and  severe  duties  of  the  sailor 
acquired  a  sort  of  polish,  and  his  character  present- 
ed that  combination  of  gallantry,  grace  and  intrepi- 
dity, that  so  irresistibly  attracts.  In  the  hour  of 
danger,  he  was  calm,  intrepid  and  persevering ;  in  pri- 
vate  intercourse,  guarded,  afiable  and  delicate.  En- 
tering into  the  navy  with  large  and  expanded  ideas  of 
honour,  the  perils  he  encountered,  and  the  hard  ser- 
vices he  endured,  consolidated  his  romantick  and 
floating  visions  into  rules  and  principles  of  action.. 
By  never  lowering  his  lofty  standard  amidst  the  jus- 
tie  of  contending  di£Scul ties,  he  at  length  arrived  at, 
it.;  "and  new  trials  served  oply  to  call  into  exercise 
new  and  unexplored  resources  of  fortitude.  He  had 
BO  long  forsaken  every  other  consideration  for  glory, 
that  ^e  finally  measured  his  life  by  this  standard,  and 
felt  a  repulsive  antipathy  to  whatever  fell  short  of 
that  measure. 

There  has  seemed  a  sort  of  compact  among  our 
naval  commanders,  never  to  quit  their  station  on 
deck.  Alle%  in  his  mutilated  state,  refused  to  be 
carried  below,  and  fainted  on  the  deck  fW)m  loss  of 
blood.  Lawrence  showpd  the  same  determined  spir-^ 
it,  and  never  left  his  station  until  he  was  too  (ffi  ex- 
hausted by  his  wounds  to  animate  his^nen  by  his  ex^ 
ample.    Burrows,  although  mortally  Wouncled  at  his 


NATAL    BATTLSf. 


117 


quarters,  still  remained  at  hb  post,  survived  the  ac- 
ticm,  and  there  received  the  sword  of  his  gallant  and 
intrepid  antagonist. 

The  following  extract  from  captun  Allen's  letter, 
addressed  to  his  sister,  will  show  the  character  of 
this  intrepid  officer  in  an  amiable  light : 

"  When  you  shall  hear  that  I  have  ended  my  earth- 
ly career,  that  I  only  exist  in  the  kind  remembrance 
of  ray  friends,  you  will  forget  my  follies,  forgive  my 
faults,  call  to  mind  some  little  instances  dear  to  re- 
flection, to  excuse  your. love  forme,  and  shed  one 
tear  to  the  memory  of  HENRY." 


SMTERFRIZE  AND  BOXER. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  the  United  States  brig 
Enterprise,  commanded  by  lieutenant  William  Bur- 
rows, sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  a  cruise.  On  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  Burrows  discovered  a  schooner, 
which  was  chased  into  Portland  harbour,  where  the 
Enterprize  was  brought  to  anchor.  Having  received 
information  of  several  privateers  being  Off  Manhagan, 
he  weighed  anchor  and  swept  out  the  foUowipg 
morning,  and  stood  for  that  place.  Next  day  a  large 
brig  of  war  was  discovered,  to  which  chase  was  im- 
mediately given.  The  enemy  fired  several  guns, 
and  stood  for  the  Enterprize,  with  four  ensigns  hoist- 
ed.   After  mancDuvring  and  reconnoitering  for  som« 


'"^^"  •« 


118 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


tiine  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  'the  force  of  the 
enemy,  lieutenant  Burrows,  about  three  in  the  after- 
noon, shortened  sail,  tacked,  and  run  down,  with  the 
intention  of  bringing  her  to  close  action.  At  twenty 
minutes  after  three  the  firing  commenced  from  both 
vessels,  within  half  pistol  shot.  The  action  contin- 
ued for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  the  Enter- 
prize  ranged  ahead  of  the  enemy,  rounded  to,  and 
.Taked  her.  Shortly  after  the  main- top-mast  and  top  - 
sail-yard  of  the  enemy  came  down.  The  foresail  of 
the  Enterprize  was  then  set,  and  she  took  a  position 
on  the  Starboard  bow  of  the  enemy,  and  continiied  to 
rake  heir,  until,  about. forty  minutes  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  the  enemy  ceased  firing, 
and  cried  /for  quarters :  their  colours  being  na^ed  to 
the  masts,  could  not  be  hauled  down. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Boxer,  j)f 
fourteen  guns.  -  The  number  of  her  crew  cottld  not 
be  ascertained,  but  sixty-four  prisoners  were'laken, 
including  seventeen  wounded.  *  On  board  the  Enter- 
prize. there  was  only  one  killed  and  thirteen  wounded, 
two  of  whom  di6d  of  their  wounds. 

Lieutenant  Burrows  fell  in  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  he,  however,  refused  to  be  carried  below, 
but,  raising  his  head,  requested  that  the  flag  might 
never  be  struck.  When  the  sword  of  the  vanquished 
enemy  was  presented  to  the  dying  conqucfkdr,  he 
clasped  his  hands  and  said,  "I  am  satisfied;  I  die 
contented ;"  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  would  be 
eonseint  to  be  carried  below,  where  every  attention 
was  paid  to  save  his  life,  but  in  rain.    A  few  hours 


»i' 


id  to     ^ 


>«■. 


NATAL  BATTLE8« 


119 


lj,|-r^j 


"  ^w 


NAV4«l    f  A«f IiSi* 


». 


tfiter  tib0  yictoiy  he  bf»9«M  hii.iiiilRftrC^vNii 
Blylk«,  019  cooimander  pfutlie  BooMif . jij^ ||||  i« Jm) 
coKiili0Bfiem«iit  of  the  aotifip,  h9viii|  iic«if«|  Mcamr 
mm  eltol  Ihiough  the  body.  His  remniiw,  lnofpnpi^ 
iij  writli  tha«e  of  lieuteiuuKI  BunowB,  n^pilMPuglit 
to  Portlaii4  where  the  tw«i^  oommaa^ejp Jiipit.  iii|«K- 
re4|  sMe  by  side,  with  ixuHtary  honours. 

I^e  Boxer  was  so  much  cbimaged  in  her  sails,  rig- 
^ilg,  spars,  hull,  &c.  as  to  render  it  difficidt  to  canry 
her  into|K>rt.  The  Enterprize  received  but  trifling 
iajw^.  0%i||i«|Eaimin^tiqii  of  the  fruE^,  sl^^^pis  ad- 
ludged  wlptt^  tp  t|0  captQKs,  a^eably  to  lawt  as  a 
Tesiel  of  9liperi<Mr^Nrce. 

9Qiim  ilter  the  arriyail  of  the  £ii|bf|pri«e  i^a^  %^ 
piiiB^l  fortlanditlie  botSesol  t|i9  ^^f^^ipoai^^ 
officii*,  Imutenant  Burrows  an4  ooptiiiii  Blji^e,,|f«^ 
teoHi^l  (m  shKNf9  in  ten  oared  barges,  «owii4«l  min- 
ute strples  by  piasters  of  shjfSit  mc^amgfmmd .  |y 
ii»|l|<^f  the  badges  91^  hoalp  b^  %Kyrbpir„  wl#s 

fKailirocessioQ^il^^^^^^^  e^ifif}  of  li^u- 

|l|||^iil|%a»the^h^ 

miliMll^  at  the  place,  mii^  greiii  b(M|i  q|  the 
Miii^^ottld  bestow.  J^m^ikfi  ^pmitm^  (ms 
Waifm,  lid  Somnmeli  (nanii»  dNt^  ^ii^^mn^yO 
l|||iilNteg»n8. .^-.^  ,    :,^,,u^:„_ 

%i|| f  orthy  of  record  that  the.  WHIli^lQiPr 
li^ipimittedlQi  marchin  the  latipsip^iaBort- 
llll^^  their  late  captain  was  iitiiiift.    ^mm 


i 


tlJtfUs    BATTLIS. 


m 


i 


^  lie  iMlly#i]ig  diiira#  w«  thiidE  IriU  be  ImA 
#ith«iiM  MtitfMttkiii  Hum  airf  tldiig  we  could  tfinte 
dB  the  iime  sulif^t ;  etftwtiiaUy  the  letter  from  ttem^ 
enuif  M'Call^  the  officer  on  whon  the  eotemahd  of 
the  WMfpriM  derdlfetl  aftef  Ueot^nant  Burrows  was 
MUiderod  hlcapahie  of  directitig  the  aetioflf.  ^ 

Copj  of  aletter  fir«in  ei^lfui  Hull  to  the  Seeretwy  of  the  N«T]r» 
l^ortluid/ September  "t,  1^1^. 

yon  1^  eipf«i»,  fiinnip  the  MMi  ctf  dMaiii§dlM» 
MnkMgef  «  letter  reeved  fftUir  Siitiiki^  Siiiii^ 

Of  (ho^ifiB^  ^  the  Hrltisk  tiHg  Bdi^r  «)>  ^  UiiiNI 

I  fto#  hiV#  16  hlri^Mf  5^  Mr  I  Isfi  Pdifllii^^ 
#gtf  iii^^i  aiid  Hate  IM^  iiioiil^tifriiHrii  M,  il 
^  iiall ii^6«ii^<  I  lit^dMfy  ^tae^^^Sdmi^ 

mkto  ms^m  f^amHi^  itit^itieiiti  of  thri^iiiii 

offhe^  tWOf^ils^  ai  to  Ihi  ^BriAj^  a#  hi*%  ii^ 
d#iiredy  &&  flfelH  b(i  ^iHri^i^iid  aa  ib6ir  is  iNmreyi)^ 
he  itaOm^  fUBm&i^m  rei^^ed  Milbh  dinoMll^Ji 

huMi  ttMnei  im^mlAi^  Meed^  m&  imtmSumiti 

'«odd  i]^  ke^  aitotti  to  get'hter  fir.    Tile  Eitel^ 
f^ii  Oi^  iiliaifyd  iii  her  nUiifCs  Ail  saHi.    I  Wm 


ISAAC 


lie-Blli<llM-JeMi^0«iMiiyertlU^«fi^    * 
16 


#■ 


122 


-NAYAL    BATTUBB. 


-t- 


f.  i- 


'  Uakflid  Siatei  l>rig  EnterpriHe,  Portland,  September  7,  ItlS 
SiR^In  consequenc^^  of  the  unfortQiiate  death  of 
lieuteiuuit-cominandaiit  William  Biinowa»  late  com- 
mander of  this  yessel,  it  devolves  on  me  to  acquaint 
you  with  the  result  of  the  cruise.    After  sailing  itom 
Portsmouth  on  the  1st  instant,  we  steered  to  the 
eastwaid ;  and  on  the  mOrning  of  the  dd,  off  Wood 
Island,  discovered  a  schooner,  which  we  chased  into 
this  harbour,  where  we  anchored.     On  the  morning 
of  the  4th^  weighed  imchor  and  swept  out,  and  coil- 
tinned  our  course  to  the  eastward*     Haying   re- 
ceived information  of  several  privateers  being  off 
Manlmgany  we  stood  for  that  place ;  and  on  the  fol« 
lowiiig  morning,  in  the  bay  near  Penguin  Point,  dis- 
covered a  brig  getting  under  way,  which  appeared  to 
be  a  vessel  of  war,   and  to. which  we  immediately 
gave  chase.    She  fired  several  guns  and  stood  f%r  ns, 
having  four  ensigns  hoisted.    A|ter  reconnoite]^ 
and  discovering  her  force,  and  tfaie  psttion  to  wImc^ 
she  belonged,  we  hauled  mpon  a^wind  to  stand  jpi:|t; 
of  the  bay>  and  at  three  o'clock  s^ort^ned  sail,  talk- 
ed to  ipn  down  wi^  an  int^tion  to  luring  her  to  close 
action.    At  twenty  minutes  after  three,  p.  b^,  wlien 
within  half  pistol  shot,  the  firing  commenced  from 
both,  and  i^ter  being  warmly  kept  up,  and  with  soni^ 
manoeuvring,  the  enemy  hailed  and  said  they 
surrendered,  about  four,  p.  if.— their  colours 
nailed  to  the  masts,  could  not  be  hauled  down,  "^e 
proved  to  be  his  Britanniqk|]|iajesty's  Jbrig.j§cae^^ 
fourteen  guns,  Samuel  Blythe,  Esq.  conimander,  vi^o 
^  in^the  'early  part  of  the  enpg^nent,  Jiavnig  i|h 


i 


i-i 


-#• 


.t: 


JW 


(f ^-5. '  •  • 


HAYAL    BATTI^i. 


il2S 


^'.^ 


ccived  a  cmiiioii  '  ilioi  tkrough  tlie  body.  And  I  tm 
aorry  to  add  that  lioutenant  Borsows,  who  bad  gal- 
lantfy  M  uft  into  action,  fell  also  about  the  same  time 
by  a  jBusket  ball,  which  terminated  his  existence  in 
eight  hours. 

The  Enterprise  suffeifed  much  in  spars  and  rigging 
and  the  Boxer  in  spars,  rigging  and  hull,  having^ 
many  shots  between  wind  and  water.        ^t^^. 

It  would  be  doing  injustice  to  the  merit  of  Mr. 
Tillinghast,   second  lieutenant,  were  I  not  to  men- 
tion the  able  assistance  I  receired  from  him  during 
^  remainder  of  the  engagement,  by  his  strict  atr 
ti»tttion  to  his  own  division  and  other  departments. 
And  of  the  officers  and  crew  generally,  I  am  happy  to 
add*,  their  cool  determined  conduct  have  my  wannest 
approbation  and  applause.  ^-^-^^ 
"'As  nc  muster  roll  ^at  can  be  fully  relied  on  has 
eome  into  my  poisefssion,  I  cannot  exactly  state  the 
number  killed  and  wdttnded  on  board  the  Boxer,  but 
.    ffbtn  information  rtc^iv^  from  the  officers  of  that 
V   vi^ssd,  it  iipp^r^  there  were  between  twenty  afld 
twenty-fiv6  hill^  and  fburieeh' wbuitded.    Enclosed 
is  a  list  of  the'kilYed  and  Wounded  6h  board  6f  the 
mze.  '  1  have  the  honotir  to  be,  lie. 

EDWAI11>  R.  M'0ALL,  Senior  OflStter. 

ULi.,/Iisq.  cc^ntfcnding  naval  oi|oer 
on  the  diii^fn  station. 

Card. — Captain  Htill,  with  the  officer|  and 
crew  of  thd  United^taii^^  brig  Ettterpriase,  are  Jlep- 
ly  iiiAJpi^ied  #i)th  ^  i^adiiieis  1^  tM^  mih 


t 


i  '- 

if 


124 


i^^rW^iAT^LlfW. 


ji 


i'lf^ 


whkli  ih«  iiriiabitaiits  tff  Pdrtland,  ik  thetr  M^dll 
militarj  defMirtme^ts,  Ins^lHed  to^d  liiiiDtmf  td'^t^ 
memory  of  the  brare  lieutenant  W^Uam  Bui^wt, 
Ikte '  commander  of  the  £nterprize»  who  fell  in  the 
gallant  action  with  his  Britannick  majesty's  brig 
Box6r^  Which  she  captured  and  brought  iiitd'thiij^rt ; 
'  and  htg  they  will  tttiiWe  their  grateful  addioWli^' 
ments  for  their  very  bUndsome  tribute  of  r^spedt  %j^f' 
btMt^  in  their  attendance  on  the  fiinend  of  tb^lf 
brare  officer,  as"  well  as  tbat  of  his  gallant  cbi 
m^  ci^iain  Samuel  Blythe/  late '  cbmmaii^er  bf  the* 
Boxer,  who  fdl  in  the  tome  abtlbii,  aiid  fd  Whok 
G^\M  bdndiirs  #etie  paid  in  every  respect,  In  thisir 
ittiveral  obsequies,  eWbitm^  to  the  worlf  an'evideiicd 
of  that  character  #hich  the  Americani  are  p>fdttd  t6 
possess,  of  showing  eveiry  t^bute  of  reipeiei  ^ttb'^'a 
bmve  en«my  who  has  Men  iif  coinlbfiBit,  aikd  bf^^^ 
tiding  to  those  iat  their  poller  ^^f^  niailt  W  lilierl^ 
idllT  and  cotnfb^  ^^t^ni  ^With  the^  sitia^ 

pnsoiiers.^ 

Ckptein  Hun,  #h  the  offices  and  drew  of 
Eirt^r^e^embrac^^  present  W 
t^e  sense  which  ttey  entertain  ot  t^  prbmp^  attri- 
tion and  of  the  icfive^ind  hiiinane  exerti(Hi^  9^^^' 
uel  Siorer,  Esq.  the '  tJnited  IStates  navy 
Portland,  in  hayi^  every  accbminodation 
^  the  wounded "onf jbbard '  Ae  tJn^ 
Enterprize  as  well  as  fitowe  on  board  tbe'Bbxi 
tween  whom  no  distinction  was  ma^e.    Am  |pi|^ 
l|ewise  beg  t^  phyjkiiip| 
beeiisolund  as  to  alteid  the -most  prompt  iiMiam- 


f.u  m 


* 


M^IFAIi    iAttHllSt 


n$ 


'-V 


|i^cdK«reii«  of  tlieitf  j^feirioiis  Wwm^^  WoQli# 
4^  of  botk  tofttelf^  to  ae^pt  dldi^;|ett  tlMi^  . 

SiiraA  of  •  lollw  from  otpCai»Hall  UKoonrnddef*  BlliibrUlge, 
daltod,  Septenber  10, 181». 

«« 1 7«$ti^rday  Tinted  tlio  two  brigs',  iild  #liir  aUtbo^ 
Idied^  to  806  tho  difibrence  of  iujiity  8iliftuMI  ior  ihift 
a<:tion.  Ttte  Enterprize  haa  hattoim  eH^hU^i^  j^OUkil 
siior  &i  to  hull;  one  in  htr  waanjOiMt  ii^  <aixi  iHfitit 
foirOttmsi;  hor  sails  are  Ettuch  cUt  ivM  gti^  i^bt; 
fM  tbere  atrO  m  great  number  of  gli^'  Ibd^'  in'  bar 
lAdbsi  btt  no  jttjmy  done  by  tHeliii  Tbti  Bbofer' Brtk 
efg^en  or  twenty  eigbteen'l/oUMPrfto^  ill'  M  biffli 
most  of  them  at  the  water>  <  edge—- several  stanift' 
of  eighteen  poimd  grape  stick  in  her  side,  and  suck 
a  quantity  of  small  grape  that  I  did  not  undertake  to 
count  them.  Her  masts,  sails  and  apars,  are  literal- 
ly cut  to  pieces,  several  of  her  guns  diamounted  and 
i^^t  lor,  service ;  her  t<^p  gpdlantforecastle  nearly  tak* 
en  off  by  the  shot,  her  boats  cut  to  pieces,  and  her 
^ttiip^>|Dg^in'j^pOi^m'  yifi^fmmiBieaL 
of  ^  qtilttititif  of  iditft  iOMtttf  IH^V  IP  isifhrmifism^Mt 
I  odijHite#idli^iiti$di^  tht^e  eij^eeiVfMiUf 

a&(w^  i6lM^  e^ttsen^  ]lirg(^gi«i)RP  sIm«<^      si^nwi  «^ 
sr  Mf>  liole^  attd^  ^  1^^  Mnbvr  of  sMlil 
|i|MV  i)Htkottt  c^^ 


^96 


NATAL  BATTLIf . 


•cemnmodatioiis  for  all  her  officer!  below  in  state- 
ImMiit,  10  that  I  have  no  donbi  that  the  had  one  hun- 
dred men  on  board.  We  know  that  she  has  seyeral 
of  the  Rattler's  men  on  board,  and  a  quantity  of  wads 
was  taken  out  of  the  Rattler,  loaded  with  four  laige 
grape  shoti  with  a  small  hole  in  the  centre  to  put  in 
a  cartridge  that  the  inside  of  the  wad  may  take  fire 
:^hen  it  leares  the  gun.  In  short,  she  is  in  every  re- 
spect completely  fitted,  and  her  accomodations  ex- 
ceed any  thing  I  have  seen  in  a  vessel  of  her  class." 
A  publick  dinner  was  given  at  Portland  to  lieute- 
nant M'Call  and  the  other  officers  of  the  Enterprise, 
for  their  gallant  conduct  in  the  action  with  the  Bon- 
i  ar.     ■       -  ,  .  J  _ 

■"  ■  ■      .  ■  '^i 


THE  ESSSX. 

c   iCAraAiif  Porter,  in  the  frigate  Essex,  proceeded 
to  sea  from: the  Delfiware,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of 
October,  ^  1812,  and  repmred,  agreeably  to  instruc- 
^  tions;firom  commodor^Bainbridge^  to  the  coast  bf 
Braail^  where  dUferent  places  oT  rendezvous  had 
been  arranged  between  them.     In:  the  coum  qS^Mb 
eiuiae  on  this  .coast  he  captured  Ifis  Britannidk  mt^es- 
tflafMwt  Nocton,  and  a£ter.^k<il.out  lif  YmilMi^ 
deveiii jthoQSa^jd  pounds  sterling  in '  specie*  ordered 
h&\\ifmif^kmt^cBk     Heai^  ,Qf i  ciHi^odote '^fipw- 
Mdi^s.ffieloriiNii  aetiQii«|pi^  A^^         whichiiiiiidd 
'^^^  •  •     %. '  ■     .    "    '     -^    • 


* 


At 


1IA¥AL    BATTLE!. 


IT 


.  oUige  iiilli  <o  tetnni  to  port,  wad  joi  the  eapturt  of 
cko  Homot  by  tlio  Montague,  and  leanung  that  theie 
was  a  eonaiderabto*  angmentatioa  of  British  force  on 
the  coast,  and  se^reml  ships  in  pursuit  of  him,  he 
•  abandoned  his  haxardoas  cruising  ground,  and  stretch- 
ed away  to  the  southward,  scouring  the  coast  as 
^lir  as  Rio  de  la  Plata.     From  tb^see  he  shaped 
his  course  for  the  Pacifick  Ocean,  and,  after  suffering 
greatly  for  want  of  provisions,  and  heavy  gales  off 
Cape  Horn,  arrived  at  Valparaiso,  on  the  14th  of 
March,  1813.    Having  victualled  his  ship»  he  ran 
down  the  coast  of  Chili  and  Peru,  and  fell  in  with  a 
Peruvian  corsair,  havmg  <ni  board  twen^-four  Ameri- 
cans, as  prisoners,  the  crews  of  two  whaling  ships, 
which  she  had  taken  on  the  coast  of  Chili.    The 
Peruvian  captain  justified  his  conduct  on  the  plea  of 
being  an  ally  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  expectation 
likewise  of  a  speedy  war  between  Spiun  and  the 
United  States.    Finding,  hin^i  resolved  to  persist  in 
similar  aggressions,  captain  Porter  threw  all  his  guns 
and  ammunitioil  into  the  sea^  liberated  the  Amerkans, 
and  wrote  a  respectful  letter  t^thie  viceroy  explain- 
ing his  reasons  for  so  doing,  ^ich  he  delivered  toi 
the  captain.    He  then  fHroceeded  to  Limayand  lucki-l 
ly  recaptured  one'of  the  Americus  vessels  as  she  was 
QiileriB|,  the  porti^ 

ifAfteir  this^h^J^liused  for  sevend  months  In  the^ 
Padfok,  inik^  Imn^nse^^^^l^        on  the  BriMi 
commerce  iii  those  waten^f  He^  was  particularly 
deifruotiire  to  tl^  shij^^^g  elilployed  in  the  speltinih. 
|i  <»ti  whal»  fishery.    Anpreat  number  mitk  vidnable 


2s=-v 


m  r 


V  '- » 


%v 


c 


ITATAL  MATttMB* 


eargoM- wer»  captnrad;  two  were  §jtmm-mpto  tke 
pfieooen;  three  Mot  te  ValpeiBieo  and  laid  «^; 
three  eent  to  America ;  eneof  tliei»lierelaiBedfle« 
atoreahip,  aad  another  he  equipped  with  twenty  gm§% 
called  the  Eiaez  Junior,  and  gate  the  command  wi  her 
to  lieutenant  Downes.  Moat  of  theae  ahipi  moont- 
ed  iereral  gmia,  and  had  numerous  erewa ;  and  aa 
aeTerai  of  them  were  captmwd  by  boata  or  by  priaea, 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  Esnex  h«d  frequent  op- 
j^onunities  of  showing  their  shill  and  courage^  and 
of' acquiring  ezperienoe  and  conlidence  in  naval  oOn^ 
flict.  (I 

^^  Hating  now  a  little  squadron  under  hie  ooasaiand, 
anptain  Porter  became  »  complete  terror  in 
a^as.    Aa  his  nmnerous  prises  enpplied  him 
milly  with  proTisiona,  clothing,  medsoino»  and  naval 
iitorea  of  every  description^  hewas  enabled  for  a  long 
tMne  to  keep-  the  aea,  without  ssshness  or  Inoonve- 
liience'to  hisv  crew ;  living  entirely  on  te  «uMny, 
and'  being  ennbled  to  makn  cbnaidemblft  a<faraniiaB 
o€  pay  tqi  Ida  officen  and'  ovew  withoni  diawing*en 
gavtauiMirt!}    Tfa^jpieiittipleddevastatioBtaehlfhred 
J-hy  his  daring  en^pnaea^  net  otil^*  apnad  ahtfm* 
{liroiigbont^ie^pdrti/o^  tb#9unlfehv  bui  mw^ 
fmrnwd^gieafc  uiteasittMa  kii^^Gtaat  Bfitmn& 

"^um^us  ahips  were  sent  out  tOt^tho'Paiiilidbrhi 
yittikM  of  Inni;  Mhera  wefei«aij|gkt0  ^miwlii  the 

^€»dlM:  seas,  off  N««t^SMlii>^^^  a 

llni^'Mk a  U^Hmmm to^te^  riwnr^Lni Plaias^  ^IMae 

mmflmt  ia  wfeirirtiaptoa^J%t^ 


■  '■v; 


/-' 


J 


NATAL  •▲Tme. 


139 


■A 


.4'- 


tKt  miiMfou*  btfrea  Mid  4tt- 
oliM«  iikiiili  thK  foan  th*  QiUttpigo*  group,  attd 
atMt  HWM^ing  OB  the  Amencta  ooMt^ko  left  bo  im- 
•M  bjT  whkh  be  omiM  be  followed ;  nuaouiy  wbile 
kmgaiied  bi»  uiyloilei  Uurew  bio  puiMien at  tell ; 
tiiey  weie  diftnieted  bj  mgae  aeooiiBtf  of  ca|»tiiMt 
Modo  «t  diffoffeni  pboe%  and  oC  firigatee  soppoied  to 
li*  the  EiatK  boveraig  at  tbe  tame  time  off  different 
epaala  and  bauaituig  diffefeat  ialandik 
i>  Iittlie  Mean  wbilia eaptain  Porter,  tbough  wrapped 
ift  m^Fttery  and  uaeeitaia^  binieelf  jet  received  fre- 
^pient  and  aeemaCe  acooimts  of  hia  eaemies,  from  the 
Imoua  prices  wbicb  bo  bad  taken*  lieiitenant 
Downes,  alaoy  who  bad  convoyed  the  prioea  to  Yal- 
faniao,.  on  bia  retwrn,  brought  advicei  of  the  ezpeet- 
ed<  aniTal.of  ooBMBodore  Hillyar  in  the  Pbcebe  ftl- 
gatb  laliag  tfairty^eix  guna  accompanied  by  two 
■laopa  of  war*  Glutted  with  fpoil  and  baveelbK  and 
latBd  with  the  eaiy  and  inglorioua  captures  of  meiw 
ehaaftnaaf  captain  Porter  now  fek  eager  fos  ai^.op- 
portiiatl]!  t»  moot  the  enemy  on^  equal  terms,  attd  to 
aigwntiuft  hisr  eruise  by  some  IjriU^EpC  achieTbmenl. 
Hamngbeent  nearly  a*  year  at  Bea»  he  found  that  his 
•hip  wouldt  re^ilia.aoma'  fepaiis^.  to^  enable  her-  t«v, 
facet  the  foo^},herffepaiisd»»  thnr^orf^  accompanied 
hill  sMseral  o|  hit  piai^h  to.  Ihe  tehmd  of  Neaaho 
eeividH^oue  o£  th%»i?iasb]|«^o»>  smv*  ^Useovened  b^ 
mm9^mm-^'^i$p9ihft^^  o£  ^§mn^    Here  he  Ipmded,^ 

ilihe 


jMWteiiim<diia«W(dn^  .'-.fJ^^iimi^P.'-if'mf^.ll^ 


17 


ISO 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


ulous  and  fertile,  abounding  with  the  necessaries  cff 
life ;  the  natives  in  the  vicinity  of  the  harbour  which 
he  had  chosen  received  him  in  the  most  friendly 
manner,  and  supplied  him  with  abundance  of  provi- 
sions. During  his  stay  at  this  place  he  had  several 
encounters  with  some  hostile  tribes  on  the  island, 
whom  he  succeeded  in  reducing  to  subjection. 
Having  calked  and  completed  overhaled  the  ship, 
made  fop  her  a  new  set  of  water  casks,  and  taken  on 
board  from  the  prizes  provisions  and  stores  for  up- 
wards of  four  months,  he  sailed  for  the  coast  of  Chili 
on  the  12th  December,  1813.  Previous  to  sailing 
he  secured  the  three  prizes  which  had  accompanied 
him,  under  the  guns  of  a  battery  erected  for  th^ir 
protection,  and  left  them  in  charge  of  lieutenant 
Gamble  of  the  marines  and  twenty-one  men,  with  or- 
ders to  proceed  to  Valparaiso,  after  a  certain  period. 
'  After  cruising  on  the  coast  of  Chili  without  suc- 
cess, he  proceeded  to  Valparaiso,  in  hopes  of  falling 
in  with  commodore  Hillyar,  or,  if  disappoint^  in  this 
wish,  of  capturing  some  merchant  ships  said  to  be  ex- 
pected from  £ngland.  While  at  anchor  at  this  port, 
commodore  Hillyar  arrived,  having  long  been  search- 
.ing  in  vain  for  the  Essex,  and  almost  despairing  of  eVer 
meeting  with  her. .  Contrary  to  the  expectations  of 
captain  Porter,  bowefer,  commodore  Hillyar,  besides 
his  own  frigate,  spiperior  in  itseirto  the  Essex,  was 
accompani^cl  by  the  Cherub  sloop  of  war,  strongly 
armed  and  m«inned.  These  ships,  having  been  seni^ 
out  expressly  to  seek  for  the  £s8ex,  were  in.  prime 
Older  and  eqoppment,  with  n^ked  crewii,  and  hoisted 


#• 


4'- 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


131 


flags  bearing  the  motto  **  God  and  country,  British 
sailors'  best  rights :  traitors  offend  both."  This  was 
in  opposition  to  captain  Porter's  motto  of  **  Free 
trade  and  sailors' rights,"  and  the  latter  part  of  it 
suggested  doubtless,  by  errour  industriously  cherish- 
ed, that  our  crews  are  chiefly  composed  of  £nglish 
seamen.  In  reply  to  this  motto  captain  Porter  ^hoist- 
ed at  his  mizzen,  "  God,  our  country,  and  liberty  : 
tyrants  offend  them."  On  entering  the  harbour  the 
Phcebe  fell  foul  of  the  £ssex  in  such  manner  as  to 
lay  her  at  the  mercy  of  captain  Porter ;  out  of  re- 
spect, however,  to  .the  neutrality  of  the  port,  he  did 
not  take  advantage  of  her  exposed  situation.  This 
forbearance  was  afterwards  acknowledged  by  com- 
modore Hillyar,  and  he  passed  his  word  of  honour 
Co  observe  like  conduct  while  they  remained  in  port. 
They  continued  therefore,  whiie  in  harbour  and  on 
shore  in  the  mutual  exchange  of  courtesies  and  kind 
4>ffices  that  should  characterise  the  private  intercourse 
between  civilized  and  generous  enemies.  And  the 
crews  of  the  respective  ships  often  minglied  togeither 
and  passed  nautical  joke^  and  pleasantries  from  one 
to  the  other. 

On  getting  their  provisions  on  board,  the  Phoebe 
and  Cherub  went  off  the  port^  where  they  cniised 
Cor  sli:  weeks,  rigprpusly  blockading  captaiii  Porter. 
Th^ir  united  force  amounted,  to  ei||^h^-qi|ie  guns  and 
five  .huadred  meni..in  additipn  to  whipb  dfey  took.  5m 
board  the^irew  of  an  English  letter  of  niarque,  Ij^^ 
in  port*  The  fofce  of  the  £s^x  consisted  of  but 
%rty-s]Z  guns,  all  of    whicb>  ^]|ceptipg  sl^i  long 


,» 


m 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


twelves,  were  twenty-two  pound  canronades^  only 
serviceable  in  dose  fighting;  Her  clnw,  having  been 
iimcfh  reduced' by  the  tttsuming  of  prizes,  amounted  to 
but  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  men;  The  Essex 
jtt9ior  being  only  intended  as  a  storesfaip,  mounted 
fen  eighteen  pound  carronades  and  4,en  short  sixes 
with  a  complement  of  only  sixty  mem 

'^hJsi  vast  superiority  of  force  onr  the  part  of  tlie 
ettemy  prevented  all  chattb^  of  encounter,  on  any 
thing  like  equal  terms,  unless  by  express  covenant 
between  the  commanders.  €aptain  Pbrter,  there^ 
ft»re,  en^avoured  repeatedly^  to  provoke  a'-diallfenge 
fi!lke  ini«^ri)ey  of  Mt  frigate  t(Pthr  Phoftbe  not  jus^ 
ttfying  hiw  in'  mai^  tfere  challenge  himself^)  but 
WiVhdut  effect*.  Wb  ttied>  fre^^itly  also  to  bring;  the 
Fhttbti  ikittf  ^sitiglb  at^ni;  but  this  commodore  iiiilyar 
WaAty  dVdiAs^  andi  always'  kept  Uis  ships  so  close 
tdgei^iter  asi  to>  ihxstrater  (»ptaiii  Portei^s  attempts. 

J^ditt^  it  ittiiiiGMlbto!  w  bring  the^  enem^  to  eifual 
ciombiNf ;  and fbariii^ thie^  aativalof  ailfitiqnai  fovc^, 
Wl^h^Mediid^rstood  watf  ott  tho  wiq^  captfais  Porter 
dl^tetfflik^  mfm  m^m  ^e6f  fihrt^dpportmiitjr  Hiat 
should  present.  A  rendezvous  was  accordin^y  ap^ 
p<fkftMiii>ir tlli»]0s§i» jtmktr,  andhavini^  afi«erti^ed 
hfWpe^mi^  tdiii  that  tlMB  Ssseir  Wat  a  slipartor  sid!:- 
^t  tti  eitli»? of  di9!Hbodtadkrg^sl^s,iti wn'agreod 
ttiitslittiidMtddtllbirthtt^cttMf  elHMV^l^  tfff'X  thiiNi% 
^bHii^  ^M^sMM^jiiuiibr  a«>d|»^ 

■^01-  mr  neiit  dl^'  i^^Ah^  of  MiMh,  fteiwkid 
iMttnif  otf  i^bklW  fm^fymk  Ae'  iNMltil>l«BArd,  tfldt  tin 
fisMer  pdNMdi IwrlallMNMI  dtfilei  an*  dniggadr  M 


.-j^ 


NAVAL 


BATTLES. 


193 


■4 


starboara  ancnor  directly  out  to  sea.    Not  a  moment 
was  lost  in  getting  sail  on  the  ship ;  but  perceivmg 
that  the  enemy  was  close  in  with  the  point  form- 
ing the  west  side  of  the  bay,  and  that  there  was  a 
possibility  of  passing  to  windward,  and  escaping  to 
sea  by  superior  sailing,  captain  Porter  resolved  to 
hazard  the  attempt.     He  accordingly  took  in  his  top- 
gallant-sails  and  braced  up  for  the  purpose,  but  most 
unfortunately  on  rounding  the  point  a  heavy  squall 
struck  the  ship  and  carried  away  her  main-top-mast, 
precipitating  the  men  who  were  aloft  into  the  sea^i 
who  were  drowned.     Both  ships  now  gave  chase,  and 
the  crippled  state,of  his  ship  left  captain  Porter  no  al- 
ternative but  to  endeavour  to  regain  the  port.    Find- 
ing it  imposible  to  get  back  to  the  common  anchor- 
age, he  ran  olose  into  a  small  bay  about  three  quar- 
ters of  a  mile  to  leeward  of  the  battery,  on  the  east 
of  the  harbour,  and  let  ,go  his  anchor  within  pistol 
shot  of  the  shore.     Supposing  the  enemy  would,  as 
formerly)  respect  the  n^trality  of  the  place,  he  con- 
sidered himself  secure,  and  thought  only  of  repairing 
the  damiiges  he  had  sustained.     The  wary  and  men- 
acing approach  of  the  h^tile  ships^  however,  display- 
ing th^if  motto  flags  and  having  jacks  at  all  their 
ma|t^!,  ,he,ads,  soopi ,  showed  him  the  real  danger  of 
his  8itQ9tifm»    With  all  possible  despatch  he  got  his 
ship  majdj^  for  actioii»  and  endeavoured  to  get  a  spring 
oii,iii|£i^e»  but  had  not  succeeded,  when,  at  fifty- 
four  a^|p»pa  p««*  *^»^  »  Y  *'*^  enemy  commenced 
aa  attack.  ^--.^j-. 


134 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


At  first  the  Phoebe  lay  herself  under  his  stem  and 
the  Cherub  on  his  starboard  bow;  but  the  latter 
soon  finding  herself  exposed  to  a  hot  fire,  bore  up  and 
ran  under  his  stern  also,  where  both  ships  ke|it  up  a 
severe  and  raking  fire.     Captain  Porter  succeeded 
three  different  times  in  getting  springs  on  his  cables, 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  his  broadside  to  bear  on  the 
enemy,  but  they  were  as  often  shot  away  by  the  ex- 
cessiVe  fire  to  which  he  was  exposed.     He  was  ob- 
liged, therefore,  tp  rely  for  defence  against  this  tre«- 
mendous  attack  merely  on  three  long  twelve  ppund- 
ers,  which  he  had  ran  out  of  the  stem  ports ;  and 
which  were  worked  with  such  bravery  and  skill,  as 
in  half  an  hour  to  do  great  injury  to  both  the  enemy's 
ships,  and  induce  them  to  hale  off*  and  repair  dama- 
ges.    It  was  evidently  the  intention  of  commodore 
Hillyar  to  risk  nothing  from  the  daring  courage  of 
liis  antagonist,  but  to  take  the   Essex  at  as  cheap  a 
rate  as  possible.     All  his  manoeuvres  were  deliberate 
and  wary ;  he  saw  his  antagonist  completely  at  his 
mercy,  and  prepared  to  cut  him  up  in  the  safest  and 
surest  manner.     In  the  mean  time  the  situation  of 
the  Essex  was  galling  and  provoking  in  the  extreme; 
crippled  and  shattered,  with  many  killed  and  wound- 
ed, she  lay  awaiting  the  convenience  c^  the  enemy, 
to  renew  the  scene  of  slaughter,  i^ith  scarce  a  hope 
of  escape  or  revenge.     Her  brave  crew,  however,  in 
place  of  being  disheartened,  were  aroused  to  despera- 
tion* and  by  hoisting  ensigns  in  their  rigging,  and 
jacks  in  different  parts  of  the  ship,  evinced  ^tir  de- 
fiance and  determination  to  hold  out  to  the  \tat. 


^ 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


136 


u  The  enemy  having  repaired  his  damages,  now 
placed  himself,  with  both  his  ships,  on  the  starboard 
quarter  of  the  Essex,  out  of  reach  of  her  carronades, 
and  where  her.  stem  guns  could  not  be  brought  to 
bear.  Here  he  kept  up  a  most  destructive  fire,  which 
it  was  not  in  captain  Porter's  power  to  return ;  the 
latter,  therefore,  saw  no  hope  of  injuring  him  with- 
out getting  under  way  and  becoming  the  assailant. 
From  the  mangled  state  of  his  rigging,  he  could,  set 
no  other  sail  than  the  flying  jib ;  this  he  caused  to  be 
hoisted,  cut  his  cable,  and  ran  down  on*  both  ships, 
with  an  intention  of  laying  the  Phoebe  on  board. 

For  a  short  time  he  was  enabled  to  dose  with  the 
enemy,  and  the  firing  on  both  sides  was  tremendous. 
The  decks  of  the  Essex  were  strewed  with  dead, 
and  her  cockj^t  filled  with  wounded  ;  she  had  l)eea 
several  times  on  fire,  and  was  in  fact  a  perfect 
wreck ;  still  a.  feeble  hope  sprung  up  that  she  might 
be  saved,  in  consequence  of  the  Cherub  being  com- 
pelled to  hale  off  by  her  crippled  state  ;  she  did  not 
retiirn  to  close  action  again,  but  kept  up  a  dis- 
tant i^mg  with  her  long  guns.  The  disabled  state 
of  the  Essex,  however,  did  not  permit  her  to  tsdie 
advantage  of  this  circumstance ;  for  want  of  sail  she 
was  unable  to  keep  at  close  quarters  with  the  Phoebe 
who»  edging  off,  chose  the  distance  which  best  sinted 
her  long  gui|s,  ^4ept  up  a  tremendous  fire,  which 
mspde  dreadful  Jiav0Q|i  among  our  crew.  Many  of  the 
guns  of  the  Espex  were  rendered  useless,  and  many 
had  their  whole  crews  destroyed— 'they  were  man»- 
ned  from  those  that  were  disabled,  and  one  gun  in 


i# 


196 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


1^ 


piuticdlar  was  three  times  manfie^ ;'   fifteeii  UlUE 
were  slain  at  it  in  the  course  of  the  action,  thoti^h 
the  captain  of  it  escaped  with  only  a  slight  wound. 
Captain  Porter  now  gave  up  sill  hope  of  closing 
with  the  enemy,  but  finding  the  wind  fiiTourable)  de- 
termined to  run  his  ship  on  shore,  land  the  crew,  and 
destroy  her.      He  had  approached  within  muSket 
shot  of  the  shore,  and  had  every  prospect  of  succeed- 
ing, when,  in  an  instant,  the  wind  shifted  frotn  tlib 
land  and  drove  her  down  upon  the  Phoebe,  exik>sing 
her  again  to  a  dreadful  raking  i^e.    The  ship  wjIs 
now  totally  unmanageable;  yet  as  herhead  was  toward 
the  ^nemy,  sad  he  to  leeward,  captain  Porteir  iigain 
percMved  a  faint  hope  of  boarding* '   At  this  ni6nk«ttt 
fientenant  Dewnes,  of  the  £ssex  junior^  citrine  dn 
board  to  receive  Aiders,  expecting  lliat  captain  Pos- 
ter would  soon  be  a  ptfsoner.    His  serviebs  ceroid  be 
of  BO  8?ail  in  the  deplombtef  state  of  the  Essex,*  stnd 
finding  Irom  the  enemy's  putting  hk  helm  trp,  thSM 
ilie  last  attempt  at  bonrding  would  not  sutceed,  cH^ 
tna  Porter  direct«d^  him,  after  hie  had  be0n  tett  niM^ 
ntes  on  bo«rd,  to  return  to^^Mso#n  ship,  t6  b6  prcfKred 
fop  defending  and=  destroyiiig  her  itif  ckse  df  Sfttack. 
He  ttyek  wMh  hittr  sievevnt  of  the  Wonnded,  leaving 
three  of  his  boat*»<  cfeti'  oil  board  to  make  ro6m  for 
tliem.    The  Chertt^  kept  vtp  ahot  fire  on  him  du<^g 
lis  retumi.     The  s^^^  on  bblird  df  ^  Ilss«jt 
mm  became  horrible;  the  i^nem;^ cofttinned  to  tHI^ 
liei,  while  site  ws^  nxinlble  to  bring  it  gun  to  bear*  Hi 
rctvmv     Stills  htfP  tc^iSBmSi^,^  ^^^ 
ihal^  boidered  on  d«speratlonv  persisted  in  th#  Uj^- 


'^   I  ^ 


#^ 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


197 


1 


qual  and  almost  hopeless  conflict  Eveiy  exp^ent 
that  a  fertile  and  inventiye  mind  could  suggest  was 
resorted  to,  in  the  forlorn  hope  that  thej  might  yet 
be  enabled  bj  some  hickj  chance  to  escape  from  the 
grasp  of  the  foe.  A  halser  was  bent  to  the  sheet 
anchor,  and  the  anchor  cut  from  the  bows,  to 
bfing  the  ship's  head  round.  This  succeeded ;  the 
broadside  of  the  Essex  was  agam  brought  to  bear ; 
and  as  the  enemy  was  much  crippled  and  unable  to 
hold  his  own,  captain  Porter  thought  she  might  drift 
out  of  gun  shot  before  she  discovered  that  he  hai 
anchored.  The  halser,  however,  uniortunately  partr 
ed,  and  with  it  failed  the  last  lingering  hopa  of  the 
Essex.  The  ship  luid  taken  fire^  several  tiroes  during 
the  ap^;^  but  at  this  moment  her  situation  was  awr* 
flit  She  was  on  fire  both  forward  and  aft;  the 
j|unes  were  burstpig  up^  each  hatchway ;  ai  huge 
quantity  of  powdef  below  expLsded,  and  ward  was 
given,  that^ the  fire  wfis  near  the  magazine.  Thw 
^uprounded  by  horri^urs,  without  any  chance  of.  sav* 
ueif^thje  ship  captain  Pojrter  turned  his  attention  to  rea- 
luing  as  many  of  hi9  bc&ve  companions,  as  possifalsb 
l^^ing  his  ^tjaiice  fromt  the  shore  did  not  exceed 
^uree  quarters  of  9  n|9e,.he  hoped  nuu^  would,  he 
aUeito.save  diemselves  should  the  siup  bhiif  up. 
Hit  bg^s,]»d  b^n;cu$< to. pieces  by  theenemy^s  shot, 
blithe  advided  «icb^as  ooiUd  swim  tojompovierboaod 
ap^:  mal^  for^  jriuir^k ,  Some  fearkedit-Hpome:  wera 
takei^  by  the  enemyf  and  some  p^iidbed  in  the  ^wk" 
tempt;  bal  most  of  ti»i»toyai  andgalhHii 


'^ 


a 


m 


1S8  NATAL    BATTLES 

ferred  sharing  the  fate  of  their  ship  and  th^  eom-^ 
mander.  ^  ''''■^':.  -v^"''  , 

Those  who  remained  on  bcfcii4  JIWfr<md<^^ 
to  extinguish. the  flamee,  and  hamgaiioeeededt  went 
again  to  the  guns  and  kept  up  a  fiiilg for  a fenrniin- 
gp,  utes;  but  the'crew  had  by  thb  time  become  86  Wjwk 
*  ened  that  all  further  resistance  was  in  yi^iu#  Oaf- 
tain  ]E*o7ter  summoned  a  consultation  of  th^  j^f^ivm 
of  divisions,  but  was  surprised  tp  find  ofliy^||tiD| 
lieutenant  Stephen  Decatur  M!iCnight.  ren#ing  ; 
of  the  others  some  had  beeii  kil(pdi.  otjbiirs  knocked 
overboard,  and  others  carried  below  disid>led  bj  se- 
vere wounds.  The  accounts  from  «yery  part  of  the 
ship^ were  deplorable  in 'the  extreme;  representing 

her  in  the  most  shattered  and  crippled  condijIQii*  u^ 
imminenridanger  of  sinking,  and  so  crowdedlpih  the 
wounded  that  even  the  birth. d^i^i  could  contttin  no 
more,  i^  many  were  killed  while  Wl«(r:the  siurgeon's 
handb.  In  the  mean  while  the  enemyviiicoBSf^enCft 
of  the  smoothposst  of  the  water  andiiis  secui^  dis 

'  ttpce,  was  enabled  to  keep  ttp  a  ^elib^te  ^c^ 
sitimt  fire,  aiming  with  epohm  and  Wtainljflis  '** 
firing  at  a  target;%id  hitting  the  hu^  ev^  ^^%yy 

.  At  length, utterly  despairi^  Q^|||^|i|ie  sliip,  cap^^':. 
tain^prter  was  <^mpelled,  if  twcity  »Wi^8  part 
m  p.  M.  to  give  ike  painfut  order  to  stkike  the  c<^ 
ours.  It  is  probable  the  enemy  did  not  p^ceb^  that 
the  ship  had  surrendered,  far  he  c^ftin^l^g; 
several  men  were  kill^  and  wom^ted  in .  ^|jwrent 
parts  of  the  ship,  8^4  csaptain  Fcwfii^ffiHilaiitSe  in- 


>\ 


,  *^^ 


{lAf  At  BATTLBl. 


139 


ft?. 


.  i 


^w^' 


-V*, 


t     5  • 


140 


NiTAL  SATTLIf. 


V 


tended  to  ihow  no  quarter,  was  about  to  rehoitt  his^ 
flag  aad  to  fight  until  be  Bunk,  when  tbe  enemy  d^ 
tisted  bk  attack  ten  minutea  after  tbo  aunender. 

Tbe  kMM  of  the  Essex  is  a  suffieient  testimonj  of 
tbe  desperate  bravery  with  which  she  was  defended. 
Out  ot  two  hundred  and  fifty-fi?e  men  which  com- 
prised her  crew,  fifty-eight  were  killed;  tbirty*nine 
wounded  severely ;  twenty-seven  slightly ;  «nd  thii^ 
ty-one  missing,  making  in  ali  one  hundred  and  fifty^ 
four.  She  was  completely  cut  to  pieces,  and  so 
covered  with  the  dead  and  dypgt  with  mangled 
iimbS)  with  brains  and  bloody  lu^  dU  the  ghastly  im^ 
ages  of  pain  and  death,  that  the  officer  who  eame 
on  b6ard  to  take  possession  of  her,  tfa^ogh  accustom^ 
ed.to  scaues  of  slaughter,  was  struck  with  npkenlng 
borrour,  nad  fsiinted  at  the  shocking  sjpectacle. 

Thousands  of  the  inhabitpijis  of  'Valpffraiso  were 
spectators  of  the  tpltle,  covefin|f  the  nugbbiouring 
Its ;  for  it  wa|  fought  so  ne«i  Hkfi  fjgore  tjbift 
of  the  ^ot  even  struck  Jimeiii  the  citizeni^ 
viip  rn^e  eagerness  of  theiif  cttno8pty$  bad  venture 
""^^  v^  jip<>ti  th«  1«eaebw  Touched  by  tbf  forlorpi 
idti  of  1^  l^lliistr  afNlittl#«^  J^^u^^  at 
tagging  B^iM  vxdjiegm^^  hf» 

ip0«i|iua^r  and  crew» '»  generous  anxiety  ran 
llnM^lQllt  the  muhitude  for;^^  l^ts  qf 

dUilbt -arose  when,  by  any i^eisskude  of  battle, or 
MMpt  expedient,  ajdiMiBp  seemet  t^  ^  up  in 
Wiiiavour,  and  llpi^  i^^^  specfOtM  Wei0  seen.to 
wniig  tlu^  hands,  in^aiteiiii^^  ei  f^m^thy, 
wiMitbe  tmnuent  hipe^wmt^i^ktf  aillie  ga^ 


If  AVAL    BATTLES. 


141 


lant  little  frigate  once  more  became  an  unreiitting 
object  of  deliberate  slaughter. 

Though,  from  the  distance  and  positions  which  the 
enemy  chose,  this  battle  was  chiefly  fought  on  our 
pai .  by  six  twelve  pounders  only,  yet  great  damage 
was  done  to  the  assailing  ships.  Their  masts  and 
yards  were  badly  crippled,  their  hulls  much  cut  up; 
the  Phoebe,  especially,  received  eighteen  twelve 
pound  shot  below  her  water  line,  sonie  three  feet  under 
water.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not 
ascertained,  but  most  have  been  severe ;  the  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Phoebe  was  killed,  and  captain 
Tucker,  of  the  Cherub,  was  severely  wounded. .  It 
was  with  some  difficulty  that  the  Phoebe  and  the 
Essex  could  be  kept  afloat  until  they  anchored  the 
next  morniag  in  the  port  of  Valparaiso. 

Much  indignation  has  been  expressed  against  com- 
modore Hillyar  for  his  violation  of  the  laws  of  na- 
tions, and  of  his  private  agreement  with .  captain 
Porter,  by  attacking  him  in  the  neutral  watey^pj^Vaf- 
•paraiso.  His  cautious  attack  with  a  vastlyNiPl^or 
.force,  on  a  crippled  ship,  which,  rmying  on  his^or- 
bearance,  had  placed  herSelf  ina  most  defenceless 
situation,  and  which  for  six  We^ks  prevMks  jiad  of- 
fered  him  fair  fight,  on  advantag^pus^'tern\||(tSll!gh  it 
may  reflect  great^credit  on  his^jhiqencej  yet.certainr 
ly  furnishes  no  triluuii^H. tb  i,  brai^^  ail4  generous  miiid. 

Captain  Porter  and  his  creV  were  paroledt  snd 
permitted  tQ  rfiturn  to  the  Unit^  States  in  the  ^ 
sex  jamQ^,)ier.  armament  beine  previously  taken  out. 
On  arriving  aS  the  port  of  New  Ybr|^}t|]tg#i^ere 


.^l 


142 


NAVAL    B4TTLE8. 


overhaled  hy  the  Saturn  razee,  the  authority  of  com-^ 
modore  Hillyar  to  grant  a  passport  was  questioned, 
and  the  Essex  junior  detained.  Captain  Porter  then 
told  the  boarding  officer  that  he  gave  up  his  parole, 
and  considered  himself  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  as  such 
should  use  all  means  of  escape.  In  consequence  of 
this  threat  the  Essex  junior  was  ordered  to  remain 
all  night  under  the  lee  of  the  Saturn,  but  the  next 
morning  captain  Porter  put  off  in  his  boat,  though 
thirty  miles  from  shore ;  and,  notwithstanding  he 
was  pursued  by  the  Saturn,  effected  his  Escape,  and 
landed  safely  on  Long  Island.  His  reception  in  the 
United  States  has  been  such  as  his  great  services  and 
distinguished  valour  deserved.  The  various  interest- 
ing and  romantick  rumours  that  had  reached  this 
country  concerning  him,  during  his  cruise  in  the  Pa- 
cifick,  had  excited  the  curiosity  of  the  public  to  see 
t&is  modem  Sinbad.,  On  arriving  in  New  York  his 
clirriage'  was  surrounded  by  the  populace,  who  took 
outjiiiyMyses,  and  dragged  him,  with  shouts  and 
IP^s,  jbjhis  lod^mgs.  ^,'* 

■'  ■■  :^ ...  ;■:'    fcii^*         — - 

T0£^  ALLIGATOR. 

t  ■  • 

Towards  the  ^er  part  of  January,  1814,  the 
XJmted  State|8fi&(^er  Alligator,  mounting  eight  or 
ten  ^^,  with  a  comj^ttient  of'  forty  me%  was  at- 
t^^pi^^%(»n6  river  (six  niiles  south  of  tfaie  thannel 


*» 

*/ 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


149 


of  Chmi^m;  S.  C.)  by  six  boiu  from  the  enemy's 
*  squadron  off  the  mouth  of  the  ri?er,  having  on  board 
one  hundred  and  forty  men,  and  succeeded  in  beat- 
uig  them  off,  after  a  warm  action  of  thirty  minutes, 
in  which  the  enemy  suffered  very  severely.  The  loss 
on  board  the  Alligator  was  two  killed  and  two  wound- 
ed. Great  credit  is  due  to  her  commander,  sailing- 
master  Dent,  and  crew,  for  defeating  a  force  so  great- 
ly superior  in  numbers.  The  Alligator  was  after- 
Wards  lost  in  a  severe  gaic.  and  twenty-three  of 
her  men  drowned*    • 


t'-i  /'  ( 


ORUISB  OF  COItfMOlK^llE'RODGERS. 


,uit 


i  On  the  18th  of  FebnKury,  commodore  Rodgers 
arrived  Ht  Smdy  Hook,  off  Ne^  York,  after  a  cruise 
of  seventy-five  ^ys,  during  which  he  captuTlsd  a 
number  of  British  merchant  vessel^,  a^  miirowly 
escaped  at  diiereat  time8»:^.a>  veiy  superior  force  of 
the  enemy. 


ifM   "       m%9  .'K.* 


P£iLqO(DK4ND  £P;^y£BR. 

0]f^29i^iif  April,  in  latiti^e  27  47,  longitude 
80  9,  ^4Jnited  Statea  sloop^  war  Peacock,  cap- 
tain Wanpgton,  tf  twenty  ^s  and  one  hundred 
and  m^  mep,  cilptured,  ali<^^  action  of ^rty-two 


144 


NAYAL   BATTLES. 


H 

a 

A« 
Gd 

H 

»J 

Q 

3 

o 

M 


IVATAL    BATTLES. 


146 


I 


m^ 


minutes,  the  British  forig  £pervier  of  eighteen  guns 
and  one  hundred  and  twentj-eigbt  men,  having  on 
board  one  hundred  and  twenty  thov9?M3d  dojlars  j^ 
specie.  The  loss  on  board  the  Epervier  was  eight 
killed  and  thirteen  wounded ;  among  the  latter  was 
her  first  lieutenant,  who  lost  an  iirm  and  revived  j||p, 
severe  splinter  wound  on  the  hip.  Not  a  man  in  tWe 
Peacock'  was  kUled,  and  only  two  wonnded ;  aoi^  the 
injury  sustained  by  the  vessel  was  so  trifling  that  in 
fifteen  minutes  after  the  Epervier  struck,  she  was  * 
ready  for  another  action. 

When  the  enemy  stniek,  be  had  five  feet  of  watlft' 
in  his  hold,  his  main-top-mast  was  over  th^  side,  his 
main  boom  shot  away,  his  foremast  cut  nearly  in  two 
and  tottering,  his  bowsprit  badly  wounded,  ftnd  for- 
ty-five ahot  holes  in  his  hull,  twehty  of  which  were 
within  a  foot  of  his  Water  find.  By  gre%t  exertkUtt^ 
the  E|)ervier  was  got  in  sailing  order  in  t!^  eoUlM 
of  the  day,  f?   - 

On  th^  Ist  <>f  May,  the  Epervitf  arrived  at  Sa- 
vannah ;  and  on  the  4th,  the  PePNick  reacMd  i|tt,i 
same  pla^e,  after  having  beien  separated  frtqn  1^ 
prize  and  ehaaedfor  four  or  hvp  <^d'hpi|^Q|^ 
forpe  of  enemy'is  yessels. 

The  Peacock  shortly  sailed  again,  aw}  arrived  at 
New  Y&tk  toward  the  latter  part  of  ifetc^r,  from 
a  cruise  of  bile  hunted  and  forty-seven  ^ys,  bav- 


0 


ing  ma^^fouirteen^prizes,  valued 
ninety*l5ar  thousai^  two  hui 
dollars;  twelve  of  the  prizes, 
and  two  made  cartels  for  prii 

10 


Isor 
Kiwi 


hundred 
tw^i^- 


and 
two 


sre  bumc^  oraaidt, 


/.^■■# 


•••r- 


146 


NATAli    BATTLES. 


(    i. 


» 


1^- 


OEUISK  OF  THE  WASP.— CAPTURE  OF  THE  REIN 

BEER. 

411  On  the  1st  of  Maj,  the  United  States  slbdp  of 
w4r  Wasp,  of  eighteen  guns  and  oqe  hundred  and 
seventy-three  men,  captain  Blakely  commaiider,  sail- 
ed from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  on  a  cruise,  and  on 
the^8tb  of  June,  in  latitude  4d  36,  longitude  11  15 
after  having  made  several  captures,  ^e  fell  in  with 
engagei^,  and  after  an  action  of  nineteen  minutes,  cap- 
tured his  Brittanick  majesty's  sloop  of  war  Reindeer, 
William  Manners,  esquire,  commander.  The  Rein- 
deier  mounted  sixteen  twenty-four  pound  carronades, 
two  long  six  or  nine  pounders,  and  a  shifting  twelve 
I  pound  carronade,  with  a  complement  on  board  of  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  men.  She  was  literally  cut 
to  piecel  in  a  line  with  her  ports ;  her  upper  wotks, 
^  boats  and. spare  spairs  were  one  complete  wreck,  aind 

•^l^reece  springi%  up  the  day  after  the  action,  her 
roren^t  went  by  the  boai^ ;  when  the  ^prisoners 
haviij|M|i.  taken  on  board  the  Wasp,  she  was  set 
<Hi  fire  amd  soon  blew  up. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Reindeer  was  twenty-three 
}i\\\ed  and  forty  two  wounded,  her  captain  being 
among  the  former.  On  bcKird  the  Wasp  five  were 
killed  and  twentjK>ne  wotinded.  'More  t^n  one 
half  of  the  wpuiufSfnemy  weijejiii  cdnse^iience  of 
the   severity  and  »ept  of  thTif  wounds,  put  on 

'  1>oM  i  Fortugaei|^^  and  sent  tor  England.-'-^he 


± 


-'mmmm 


* 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


147 


loss  of  the  Americans,  although  not  as  severe  as  th^t 
of  the  British,  was  owing,  in  a  degree,  to  the  prox- 
imity of  the  two  vessels  during  the  action,  and  the 
extrcime  smoothness  of  the  sea,  b^t  chiefly  in  repel- 
ling boarders. 

On  the  8th  of  J^Iy,  the  Wasp  put  into  L'Orient, 
France,  after  capturing  an  additional  number  9f  priz^ 
es,  where  she  remained  until  the  27th  of  August, 
when  she  again  sailed  on  a  cruise.  On  the  ^Ist  of 
September  she  fell  in.  with  the  British  sloop  of  war 
Avon,  of  twenty  guns,  commanded  by  captain  Abuth- 
not,  and  .after  an  action  of  forty-five  miniites,  coiod- 
pelled  her  to  surrender,,  her  crew  being  ne^ly  all 
kfuc  '  f  wounded.  The  guns  were  then  ordered  to 
be  dd,  and  a  boat  lowered  from  die  Wasp  in 

order  to  tak^  possession  of  the  prize.  ,  1|^e  act  of 
lowering  £e  boat,  a  second  enemy's  vessePlvas  dis- 
covered astern  and  standing  towards  the  Wasp. 
Captain  Blakely  immediately  ordered  his  crew  to 
their  quarters,  prepared  every  thing'  for  action,  and 
awaited  her  coming  up.  In  a  fen^inUtes  after,  t^o 
additional  sail  were  discovered  bearing  down  upon 
the  Wasp.  .Captain  Blakely  stood  off  ^withihe  ex- 
pectation of  drawing  the  first  from  its  Mnpanions; 
but  in  this  he  was^isappoint^d.  She  continued  to 
approach  until  she  came  close  to  the  stern  of  the 
Wasp,  when  she  haled  by  the  wind,  fired  her  broad- 
side, (which  injured  the  Wasp  but  trifling,)  and  re- 
traced her  steps  to  join  her  conallts.  Captain  Blaie- 
ly  was  now  necesiltated  to  afaAdon  the  Avon,  which 


had  by  this  time  become 


wreck,  and  which 


V 


(^ 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


fStion  after  sunk,  the  surriving  part  of  her  crew  hav- 
ing barely  time  to  escape  to  the  other  enemy's  ves- 
sels. 

On  board  the  Avon  forty  were  killed  and  sixty 
wounded-  '  -e  loss  sustained  by  the  Wasp  was  two 
killed  ainpf  one  wounded. 

The,  Wasr  afterwards  contiiiued  her  cruise,  mak- 
ing  great  havock  among  English  merchant  vessels 
ai^  privateers,  destroying  an  immense  amount  of 
the  enemy's  property.  From  the  1st  of  May  until 
t]he  20th  of  September,  she  had  captured  fifteen  ves- 
sels, most  of  which  she  destroyed. 


LOSS  OF  THE  PRESIBENT. 


•^-:!l*'i 


On  ih6  14th  of  January,  the  frigate  President,  the 
command  of  which, had  been  assigned  to  com^nodore 
Decatur,  sailed  from  New  York  on  a  crliiile.  Owing 
to  a  mistake  of  the  pilotsy  the  ship,  in  going  out, 
ffri>unded  6h  the  bar,  where  she  continued  to  strike 
teeav^  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  Several  of  he*  rudder 
Wees  being  broken,  and  other  mate'rial  injury  sus- 
tained, commodore  Decatiir  thought  it  a)dtisatde  to 
i^um  to  port,  which,  however,  he  was  prevented 
from  doing  by  the  s^i^g  westerly  winds.  Having 
succeeded  in  forcing  K^  over  the  baf,  he  shaped  his 
coarse  akmg  th^  fthoir^f  Loiig  Island  for  fifty  milet, 


'  • 


KAVAL    9ATTLES. 


149 


and  then  s.  £.  by  £.  At  five  o'c]iocKi  three  sliips 
were  discovered  ahead.  The  commodore  passed 
two  miles  to  the  northward  of  them.  At  da}' light 
he  discovered  four  ships  in  chase,  one  on  each  quar- 
ter, and  two  astern,,  the  leading  ship  being  a  razee, 
which  commenced  a  fire  upon  the  President,  but 
without  effect.  At  .meridian  he  found  that  he  in- 
creased his  distance  from  the  razee ;  but  tjbe  next 
ship  astern,  which  v/as  the  Endymion,  mounting 'fifty 
guns,  twenty-four  pounders,  on  th^  maindeqk,  had 
gained  and  continued  to  gain  upon  hip^  considembly. 
All  hands  were  occupied  in  lightening  the  ship  by 
starting  water  cutting  away  anchors,  throwing  over- 
board provisions,  cables,  spars,  boats,  and  every  arti- 
cle that  could  be  gotat,  and  keeping  the  sails  wet  from 
the  royals  down.  At  three  d'clocjk  the  enemy  was 
joined  by  a  brig,  and  was  coming  iq)  with  the  Presi- 
dent rapidly.  The  Endymion  bad  appjroached  with- 
in gunshot,  and  commenced  a  fire  with  her  bow  guns, 
which  was  returned  from  the  stern  of  the  PresMent. 
At  five  o'clock,  she  obtained  a  position  on  Jfhe  star- 
board quarter,  within  half  point  blank  sh9t,  on  which 
commodore  Decatuk'  could  not  bring  eith^  his  sterp 
or  quarter  guns  to  bear.  He  reniained  in  this  jposi- 
tion  for  half  an  hour,  hoping  that  the*enemy  ivbvAd 
close  with  him  on  his  broadside,  in  which  case  he 
had  prepared  his  men  to  board.  The  enemy,  how- 
ever, kept  his  position,  and  every  fire  cut  some  of  the 
sails.and  rigging  of  the  Presidef  t.  In  was  now  fiusk, 
and  commodore  Decatur  altered  his  course,  ibr  the 
purpose  of  bringing  the  enenlf  abeam ;  im^ 


160 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


their  ships  astern  were  drawing  up  fast,  he  felt  satis- 
fied he  should  be  able  to  throw  his  opponent  out  of 
\he  combat  before  they  could  come  up ;  and  was  not 
without  hopes  of  escaping.  The  enemy,  however, 
kept  off  at  the  same  instant.  They  continued  engag- 
ed, steering  sor  u  with  steering  sails  set,  two  hours 
and  a  half,  v/h.^.  the  Endymion  was  completely  dis- 
mantled, and  dropped  entirely  out  of  the  action. 
The  other  ships  of  the  squadron  being  in  sight  and 
^most  within  gunshot,  commodore  Decatur  was  of 
.ourse  compelled  to  abandon  her.  -  He  then  resumed 
his  ||nner  course,  to  avoid,  if  possible,  the  remainder 
of  tbcf  iquadron,  which  he  continued  till  eleven 
o'cliiek^  At  this  time  two  fresh  ships  of  the  enemy, 
the  Fbmone  and  Tenedos,  came  up.  The  Pomone 
opened  her  fire  upon  the  larboaird  bow,  within  mus- 
ket shot;  the  Tenedos,  about  two  cables  length 
astern,  taking  a  raking  position  on  the  quarter  of  the 
President.  The  other  ships  of  the  squadron,  except 
the  Endymion,  were  within  gunshot.  Thus  situated 
with  about  one  fifth  of  his  crew  killed  and  wounded, 
his  ship  crippled,  and  more  than  a  four-fold  force  op- 
posed to  him,  without  a  chance  of  escape  left,  com- 
modore Decatur  thought  it  his  duty  to  surrender. 

The  loss  on  board  the  President  was  twenty- 
four  Lilled  and  fifty-five  wounded.  Among  thefor- 
jpet  were  lieutenants  Bal^bit,  Hamilton  and  Howell. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not  ascertained.  The 
Endymion  had  on  board  in  addition  to  her  own  crew, 
one  lieutenant,  one  master's  mate  and  fifty  seamen, 
'  belonging  to  the  Saturn,  and  when  the  action  ceas- 


M. 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


151 


ed,  was  left  motionless  and  unmanageable,  until  she, 
bent  new  sails,  cove  pew  rigging,  and  fished  her 
spars;  nor  did  she  join  the  squadron  till  six  hours 
after  the  action,  and  three  hours  after  the  surrender 
of  the  President. 

C'OmiitbBbre  Decatur,  and  a  part  of  his  csew  were 
put  on  board  the  Endjmion,  and  was  carried  to  Ber- 
muda. After  ren)aining  on  the  Island  a  few  days, 
he  was  paroled,  and  sailed  for  the  United  States  in 
the  British  frigate  Narcissus. 

The  ships,  cofnposing  the  squadron  m  this  a^ion, 
wer^  the  Majestic,  Endjmion,  Pomone, 
and  Dispatch. 

In  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  itavi^,  c^nio- 
dore  Decatur  says,  "  f  is  with  emotions  of  )^de  I 
bear  testimony  to  tho  gdlantry  and  isteadiness  of 
every  officer  and  man  I  had  the  honour  to  command 
on  this  occasion  :  and  I  feel  satisfied,  thaf^the  fact  of 
their  having  beaten  a  force  when  equal  to  themselves, 
in  the  presence,  and  almost  under  the  guns  of  so 
yastly  superior  a  force,  when,  too,  it  was  almost  selif- 
evident,  ihat,  whatever  their  exertions  might  be,  they 
must  nltimately  be  captured,  wilS  be  taken  as  evi- 
dence of  What  they  would  have  pertbfnved,  had  the 
force  opposed  to  them  been  in  any  degree  equal." 


' » r.fci.  J 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  CYANI?  AND  LEVAVT.K 

dN'*^tHe  evening  of  thef  Zipitfi^  February,   captain 
Stewart,  of  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution, 


162 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


«' 


off  ik^  Island  of  Madeira,  fell  ia  with  lib  Britan- 
nick  majesty's  ships  of  war  Cjane  and  LevtHHt  When 
a  lipirited  action  commenced. — lit  fbrty' tiMites  the 
Cyiine  struck  b^r  colours,  being  Ibifeh  '<mt  il|>,  and 
the  Levant  endeavoured  to  escape.  Th^  C^iriftittt* 
tion,  aft6T  manning  the  prize,  punided  tllie  Li^yant ; 
and  in  half  an  hour  cataie  up  with  heir,  whMi  «li6.  soon 
surrendered. 

The  Levant  mounted  tWiMy^he  gttjiii,  eighteen 
of  which  were  thirty-two  'pound  car^ottad^,  llid  h^l* 
crew  cofisisted  df '6nc  hundred  mA'sbtiy  dfflt^ts,  sea- 
me# l^mariti^s,  coirittianded  by  diii^tailti  Bbu^ss.' 
limjBS^^  killed  was  twenty-three,  i^d  '^tNlnddd 

Thb  K^yarie  ttiountfed  thiriy-foiit  guilfe,  (t^tmiy- 
two  thif t^-t«vo  pound  ckrrdnades,<ceni^igh^«ti^pdtitta 
do.  and  two  bng  hinfe  |)Ol»idei^,)'lind'h^r  breWlion- 
^isti^d  of  one  hundiP6d  iknd  i^ility^d^ht  dffi<i6irs,  80ifmeta 
:(#iiiiKh^s,  cott^th^ndfed  byi^aptfedn  fiikm.  H«lr 
16GS  in  killed  Was  ^\ydVe,'tttid  W6urtdl^t#tin^H»iSi. 

The  'Cddsiltution  ireeeited  bUt  littfe  i)^|r%>;  'her 
lotts'm'killtsa'i^  thj^e,  ttftfl*w6i|i^^^'^^^ 

'O&'thb  i9ih  tif  ^Iffilrdi  the  ^Ccyitif^tit^tii^  ^th^h»r 
IWo¥ri^ds%^6^ed'6rthe'I)^  bf  M^3r,'j[<i«^»f  li^e 
Ca^db-Vlsrd'^Mttds^)-''^  m  ^mim^mitt 
way,  and  made  sail  for  St.  J^go,  Whfsre  she  anchor- 
ed. On  thfe  12th,  captain  Stew^  discovered  three 
British  frigates^  standing  ^fcr  Port^Pfaya>;^Mi^'C>M|sid- 
ering  the  little  respect  heretofoire  paid  by  Bl^tish 

io'JihVkmet  my.    S^tiifs  ^^^te  ^a«Mrdkigly'1iMl}e 


v\ 


/ 


n^llAh  JIATTLfiS. 


168 


fe* 


154 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


5}. 


for  this  purpose,  whein  the  PortuguesitdpeDed  a  fire 
upon  captain  Stewart  from  several  of  tMr  bptteries 
and  the  British  frigates  discovering  the  movements 
ofiiour  vessels,  gave  immediate  chase.  After  cchitin- 
uing  the  chase  for  three  or  four  hours,  they  succeed- 
e^iiiv  separating  the  Levant  from  the  other  vessels, 
when  she  tacked  and  stood  for  the  hairbour,  her  com- 
manding officer,  lieatenttnt  Billiard,  hopillg^  tlie  neu- 
trality of  the  port  might  protect  him :  Mit  iil  thillifie 
Wiis  disappointed.  For  after  ^chdring  ik  fonki  ^th-  . 
IHW  i)Mter,  and  within  one  hiindnsd  Aid  fifty  yiirds  of 
t he  shore,  he  Was  wantonly  aitiiclted  by  th^  British 
fcj^at^(which  had  chased  him  in)  wlii^n,  filing jK' 
fiinher  resistance  vain,  he  was  comp<>lled  t6  straLe 
Kii  (*olour8.  "  •     '^" .' 

f  On  the  8th  of  April,  the  Cyaiie,  ebmmand^  by 
lieutenant  Hoffman,  arrived  in  itflty  at  N^iv  York ; 
and  on  the  Idth  of  May  captain  Ste#sfft  arril^Bd  at 
the  same  place  in  the  Constitution^  after  a  cruise  of 
about  five  months— having  heard  of  the  rapfic^tibnof 
a  treaty  of  peace  between  Great  Btitam  and  Ameri- 
cai^5«boat  a  fbrtnight  prervicwiis  toihis  i^^ 

The  following  particulars  df  the  capture  of  the 
Cyane  .anH,  Levant,  df  the  escipe  of  the  Constitution 
with  one  of^  them  and  >  the  subsequent  Vecapttire  of 
the  other  by  li  British 'fleet,  are  giVeii  by  captain 
Stewart,  in  his  o^is|l  letter^land  mi^peililms  be 
more  gratifving  to  tb«  nautical  reader,  thu^  our  pre-^ 
ceding  brief  relation.*    '  ,   f 


i 


NAVAL    BATTLB8. 


166 


Mniiitoi  of  Um  aetioa  botweea  Ui«  United  StatM  frigate  Conrti- 
tution  and  hit  aiigettjr't  sliiiM  Cjane  and  Levant,  on  the  90th 
Febraary,  1810. 


«(*■ 


CoMifKNCis  with  light  breezes  from  the  east,  add 
cloudy  weather.  At  one  p.  m.  discovered  a  sail  two 
points  on  the  larboard  bo]w — hauled  up,  and  made 
sail  in  chase.  At  a  quarts  past  one,  made  the  sail  to 
be  a  ship ;  fto  three  quarters  pa^t  one,  discovered 
another  sail  aiiiead ;  made  them  out,  at  two,  to  be 
both  ships,  standing  close  hauled,  with  their  starl 
tacks  on  board ;  ^t  four,  the  weathermost  shij^^ 
signals,  and  bore  up  for  her  consort,  then  al 
miles  to  leeward  ;  we  bore  up  after  her,  and  sefi 
er  top-mast,  top-gallant  .and  royal  studding  sails,  in 
chase  ;  at  half  past  four,  carried  away  our  main  roy- 
al-mast ;  took  in  the  sails,  and  got  another  prepared* 
At  five,  commenced  firing  on  the  chase  from  our  two 
larboard  bow  guns ;  our  shot  falling  short,  ceased  fir- 
ing :  at  hsflf  past  five,  finding  it  impossible  to  pre- 
vent their  junction,  cleared  ship  for  action,  then  about 
four  miles  from,  the  two  ships;  and  forty  minutes 
past  five,  they  passed  within  hail  of  each  other,  and 
hauled  by  the  w.ind  on  the  starboard  tark,  hauled  up 
their  courses,  and, prepared  to  receive  us:  at. forty- 
five  miip^^tes  past  five,  they  made  all  sail  close  hauled 
by  th^  ii[iQ^,  ill  hi^pes  of  fi;etting  to  windward  of  us . 
at  fifty-fip.  niiiP^^  P^^  ^^^t  finding  themselves  dis- 
appoin^^ill  t|ieir  ol^ect,  and  we  were  closing  with 
them  fast,'they  shortened  sail,  and  formed  on  a  line 
of  wind,  abput  half  a  cable's  length  of  each  other :  at 
0Kt  having  then^  under  command  of  our  battery. 


KV,. 


166 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


h 


koiit«d  our  colou'ii,  which  was  answered  hy  both 
ships  hoisting  £ngilfh  ensigns  :  at  five  minutes  pjsst 
six,  ranged  up  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  sternmost 
ship,  about  three  hundred  yards  distant,  and  com- 
menced the  action  hy  broadsides,  both  ships  returning 
our  fire  with  great  spirit  for  about  fifteen  minutes ; 
then  the  fire  of  the  eneodj  beginning  to  slacken,  and 
the  great  column  of  smolLe  doUected  under  our  lee, 
induced  us  to  cease  our  fire  to  ascertain  their  poei- 
<«iaiM  and  conditions :  in  about  ihree  min^tes^  the 
;  SB^ft^<l)learing  away,  we  found  ourselves  abreast  of 
•i^^pieadmost  ship)  the  sternmost  ship  luffed  up  for 
oul^  larboard  quarter ;  we  poured  a  broadside  into 
the  iheadmost 'Ship,  and  then  (braced  aback  our  main 
apd  mizzen-top-sails,  and  backed  astern  under  cover 
of 'the  sipoke,  abreast  4he  sternmost  ship,  when  the 
,  notion  was  continued  with  spirit  and  considerable 
offect,  until  •thirty-<five  minutes  past  six,  when  the 
enemy's  <fire  again  slackened  an4  we  fliscovered  the 
lieadmost  bearing  lip ;  ^filled  our  topsails,  shot 
ahead,  and  gave  her  .two  stern  rakes;  we  then 
discovered  ^the  sternmost  ship  wearing  also;  wore 
tfhip  immediately  -after  ^her,  and  gave  her  a  stem 
•raker-rshe  luffed  to  on  our  starboard  bows,  and  gave 
lis  .her  tlarboard  broaibide  :  we  jraog^d  up  on  her 
larboard  garter,  within  hail,  aofd  were  4ibqut  to 
giv«  shef  oiir,sj(arboard  broad^de,.ji«hen  she. ^ truck 
htr  cjulours,  fired  a/ lee  §un,  aiod  yielded.  At  ,^(iy 
jDintttes  past  ^,i'took  possession  of  i  his .  majesty's 
jship  fCyane,  '.captiiin  Gondon  ^Ealcca,  >mouHtiug 
.tlurtjrMfoitr  .guns,     ^t  .eight,^fiiled  aw^  .after  .hef 


Ifk^  %AnLvt. 


167 


comort,  which  was  still  in  sight  to  leeward.  At 
half  past  eight,  found  her  standing  towards  us,  with 
her  starboard  tacks  close  hauled,  with  top-gallant 
sails-Set,  and  colours  flying.  At  isfe  minutes  past 
eight,  ranged  close  along  side  to  windward  of  her 
on  opposite  tacks,  and  exchanged  broadsides — wore 
immediately  under  )ier  stem,  and  raked  her  with  a 
broadside  :  she  then  crowded  all  sail,  and  endeavour- 
ed to  escape  by  running — hauled  on  board  ou  tacks,4. 
set  spanker,  and  flying  jib  in  chfise.  At  half  pasl^ 
nine,  commenced  firing  on  her  from  our  sta.^ioard 
bow  chaser;  g^ve  her  several  shot,  which  cut  her 
spars  and  rigging  considerably.  At  ten,  finding  she 
could  not  escape,  fired  a  gun,  struck  her  colours,  an  i 
yielded.  lYe  immediately  took  possession  of  his 
majesty's  ship  Levant,  honourable .  captain  George 
Douglass,  mounting  twenty-one  guns.  At  one  ▲•  m^ 
tfie  damages  of  our  rigging  were  repaired,  sails  shift  %/^j 
ed,  and  the  sh^>  in  fighting  cUndition."  '    ' 


■'«tr  H^' 


HinuteB  of  tlM>  chase  of  <Che  United  Statev  frigate  Constitution, 
'  by  an  English  squadron  of  three  ships,  from  r^":  r'.e  harbour 
ofPort  Praya,  island  of  St.  Ji^o:—      . 

CoMMENCKS  with  fresh  breezes  md  thick  foggy 
weathisr.  At  five  minutes  past  xr^ieive,  discovered  a 
li^ge  Slilp  th^ai^f  thi^  fog,  staWding  in  for  Port  Pray^ 
At  eight  miiiiiites  pa$t  tWelye,  discovered  two  other 
large  ships  aSterac^  her^  also  standing  in  for  the 
port^  Fr6iti  their  geni^i^I  appeahince  supposed  them 
to  h€  one  of  the  enemy's  squadrons,  and  from  the 


168 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


If* 


little  respect  hitherto  paid  by  them  to  neutral  waters, 
I  deemed  it  most  prudent  to  put  to  vea.  The  signal 
was  made  to  the  Cyane  and  Levant  to  get  under  way. 
At  twelve  minutes  past  twelve,  with  our  top  sauls  set 
we  cut  our  cable  and  got  under  way,  (when  the 
Portuguese  opened  a  fire  on  us  from  several  of  their 
batteries  on  shore)  the  prize  ships  following  our  mo- 
tions, and  stood  out  of  the  harbour  of  Port  Praya, 
^close  under  East  Point,  passing  the  enemy's  squad- 
jlpon  about  gunshot  to  windward  of  them  ;  crossed  our 
top-gallant  yards,  and  set  foresa|il,  mainsail,  spaiik- 
er,  flying-jib  and  top-gallant  sails.  The  enemy  see- 
ing us  under  way,  tacked  ship  and  made  all  sail  in 
chase  of  us.  As  far  as  we  could  judge  of  their  rates, 
from  the  thickness  of  the  weather,  supposed  them 
two  ships  of  the  linfe  and  one  frigate.  At  half  pas 
twelve,  cut  away  the  boats  towing  astern — first  cut- 
ter and  gig.  At  one  P4ll«  found  our  sailing  about 
equal  with  the  ships  on  our  lee  quarter,  but  the  frig- 
ate luffing  up,  gaining  our  wake,  and  rather  dropping 
astern  of  us  ;  finding  the  Cyane  dropping  astern  and 
to  leeward,  and  the  frigate  gaining  on  her  fast,  I 
found  it  impossible  to  save  her  if  she  continued  on  the 
same  course,  without  having  the  Constitution  brought 
to  action  by  their  whole  force.  I  made  the  signal  at 
ten  minutes  past  one,  to  her  to  tac^  ship,  which  was 
complied  witli.  This  manoeuvre,  I  conceived,  would 
detach  one  of  the  enemy's  ships  in  pursuit  of  her, 
while  at  the  same  time,  from  her  position,  she  ^ould 
be  enabled  to  feach  the  anchorage  at  Port  Praya,  be- 
fore the  detached  ship  could  come  up  i^i^th  her ;  but 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


V 


if  they  did  not  tack  after  her,  it  would  afford  her  an 
opportunity  to  double  their  rear,  and  make  her  escape 
before  the  wind.  They  all  continued  in  full  chasei 
of  the  Levant  and  this  ship ;  the  ship  on  our  lee 
quarter  filling  broadsides,  by  divisions-^her  shot  fall- 
ing short  of  us.  At  three,  by  our  having  dropped 
the  Levant  considerably,  her  situation  became  (from 
the  position  of  the  enemy's  frigate)  similar  to  the 
Cyane.  It  became  necessary  to  separate  also  from 
the  Levant,  or  risk  this  ship  being  brought  to  action 
to  cover  her.  I  made  the  signal  at  five  minutes  past 
three  for  her  to  tack,  which  was  complied  with.  At 
twelve  minutes  past  three,  the  whole  of  the  enemy's 
squadron,  tacked  in  pursuit  of  the  Levant,  and  gave 
iip  the  pursuit  of  this  ship.  This  sacrifice  of  the 
Levant  became  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Constitution.  Sailing  master  Hixbn,  midshipman 
Varnum,  one  boatswain's  mate,  and  twelve  mm, 
were  absent  on  duty  in  the  fiftk  cutter,  to  bring  the 
cartel  brig  under  our  stern. 


4iJ../«..;;.^ 


-UJ 


BLOCKADE  OF  CHESAr^AKlm  AND  DiBLAWARE 

BAYS.  * 

The  British  government  declared  the  Chesapeake 
and  Delaware  bays  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade.  In 
the  early  part  of  the   year,  a  souadron  under  the 


vf 


I-7 
I 


16Q  NAVAL   BATTLES. 

/ 

command  of  admiral  Warren,  was  sent  to  the  en^ 
trance  of  the  Chesapeake  to  enforce  this  blockade., 
r  "i^The  first  interesting  event  this  blibckade  gave  rise 
tdi  was  the  affair  of  the  Lottery.  This  vessel 
mounted  six  guns,  and  had  acreW  of  thirty-five  men. 
In  sailing  out  of  the  Chesapeake,  in  the  month  of 
February,  she  was  attacked  by  nine  large  British 
boats,  having  on  board  two  hundred  and  forty  well 
armed  men.  She  sustained  their  united  attack  up- 
y/Rtds  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  when  the  British  sue* 
ceeded  in  boarding  her,  and  pulled  down  her  colours. 
The  loss  of  the  British  exceeded  the  number  of  the 
Lottery^  ^^^^^  ' 

On  the  3d  of  April,  the  privateer  Dolphin  of  Baltic 
more,  was  captured  after  a  long  and  gallant  resisib- 
ance,  by  a  number  of  barges  and  launches,  belong* 
log  to  the  blocka^ng  squadron.  The  Btitisk  finally 
sveceeded^  in  capturing  her,  by  boarding  and  over^ 
powering  her  crew  by  superior  nnmber& 

About  the  middle  of  May,  a  psrty  of  the  ^itith' 
blockading  squadron,  sailed  up  to  the  head  of  the 
Chesapeake  bay,  where  they  captured  and  destroyed 
a  number  of  small  vessels. 

About  the  commei.  ;ement  of  May,  a  large  party  of 
British  marines  and  sailors,  under  the  command  of 
rear  admiral  Cockburn,  successfully  attacked  the 
villages  of  Fr^ichtown,  Havre-de-grace,  Georgetown 
and  Fredericktown.  These  places  were  situated 
near  the  head  of  the  ChesapeaJ^e,  an4  >!>ntalned  but 
hm  inhabitants.  They  of  course  cottid  make  but 
Uude  mststaace  against  a  numeious  body  of  assaii- 


■  t 


NAYAL    BATTLKS. 


161 


I 


ants.  The  destruction  committed  by  the  British  in 
those  places  was  wanton  in  the  extreme.  The  hous* 
es  were  set  on  fire.  The  furnityre  and  other  prop- 
erty of  the  inhabitants  were  either  destroyed  or  con- 
veyed on  board  their  vessels.  The  squadron  soon 
after  returned  down  the  Chesapeake. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  commodore  Cassin  fitted  out 
an  expedition  against  some  of  the  blockading  frigates 
then  in  the  vicinity  of  Crany  Island.  Fifteen  gun 
boats  were  selected  for  this  purpose  and  put  under  the 
command  of  captain  Tarbell.  The  attack  was  com- 
menced from  the  gun  boats  upon  a  frigate  about  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  Two  other  British  frig- 
ates were  in  sight.  The  frigate  sustained  considera- 
ble injury,  and  would  have  been  captured  by  the  gun 
boats  had  not  a  breeze  sprung  up  which  enabled  the 
other  two  vessels  to  come  to  her  assistance.  The 
action  however  continued  an  hour  and  a  half  with 
the  three  frigates.  Oply  one  Aniericah  was  killed, 
and  some  others  slightly  wounded. 

Oh  the  22d  of  June,  about  three  thousand  British 
attempted  to  land  on  Crany  Island,  but  were  repuls- 
ed. Three  of  their  barges  were  sunk  :  one  of  them, 
belonging  to  admiral  Warren's  ship  had  seventy-five 
men  in  her,  the  greater  part  of  whom  were  drowned ; 
a  number  of  prisoners  were  takenw  Many  of  the  ene- 
my ri60  deserted*.  The  Americsm  tfo^m  on  the  is- 
land consisted  of  about  five  hundred  lano  troops  ttn^^ 
dttr  ihe  command  of  lieutenant'-colbnel  Beaty  ;  and* 
one  hundred  and  fifty  marines,  and  sailors,  under  the 


■4  ,    I 


162 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


command  of  lieutenants  Neale,  Shubrick,  Saimdersi 
and  Brackenridge. 

On  the  26th. of  June,  about  two  thousand  five 
hundred  British  attacked  iiie  town  of  Hampton. 
The  American  force  statiauri  there  amounted  to 
about  four  hundred,  undt;r  the  command  of  major 
Crutchfield.  This  small  body  of  Americans  opposed 
the  very  superior  British  force,  with  the  utmost  gal- 
lantry for  a  considerable  time,  when,  overcome  by 
numbers,  they  retreated,  and  the  British  took  posses- 
sion of  Hampton,  where  the  most  inhuman  and  shock- 
ing acts  were  committed  by  them.  Several  of  the  de- 
fenceless and  unfortunate  females  that  rema^ied  in  the 
place  suffered  every  indecency  and  violence.  Pro- 
perty to  a  large  amount  was  most  wantonly  destroyed.^ 

On  the  14th  of  July  the  United  States  schooner 
Asp,  of  three  guns  and  twenty-one  men,  in  the  Ches- 
apeake bay,  being  attacked  .by  several  British  ves- 
sels, ran  up°  a  creek,  whither  she  was  pursued  by 
three  boats,  well  manned  and  arped ;  but  the  assail- 
ants were  soon  compelled  to 'retreat.  After  the 
lapse  of  an  hour,  the  Asp  was  again  attacked  by  five 
boats,  the  crews  of  which  succeeded  in  boarding  her. 
The  crew  of  the  Asp  retreated  on  shore.  The  Brit- 
ish  set  fire  tt  the  vessel  and  left  her.  The  fire 
however  was  extinguished  by  the  Americans.  The 
W»  of  the  laitter  in  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to 
ten.  * 

«  On  the  18th  of  July,  an  attempt  was  made  in  the 
Chesaneake  h»y^  to,  blow  i)p  the  PlantafiMiet,  a  se- 
venty-foor,  by  means  pf  a  torpedo.    ly^.rMi^,  the 


NATAL    BATTLXa. 


168 


projector  of  the  scheme,  had  approached  within  forty 
fathoms  of  her,  and  dropped  the  torpedo ;  when  he 
was  hailed  by  one  of  the  British  guard  boats.  He 
instantly  drew  his  machine  into  the  boat  and  escaped. 
On  the  following  night  he  made  a  second  attempt, 
but  was  again  discovered.  In  the  night  of  the  2Qth, 
he  madcv  a  third  attempt,  and  got  within  fifteen 
yards  of  the  ship's  bow,  and  directly  under  her  jib^ 
boom,  where  be  contiaued  fifteen  minutes  making 
preparations,  when  a  sentinel  from  the  forecastle 
hailed  ^^Boat  ahoy."  ^The  sentinel  not  being  an- 
swered, fired  his  musket  at  the  now  retreating  ad- 
venturer, .to  which  a  rapid  discharge  of  small  arms 
succeeded.  Blue  lights  were  resorted  to  in  order  to 
find  out  the  position  of  the  boat,  but  failed.  Rockets 
were  then  thrown  which  illilmined  the  water  to  a 
considerable  extent,  and  discovered  the  boat.  ^A 
heavy  discharge  of  cannon  immediately  commenced. 
The  Plants^ganet  slipped  her  cable,  made  some  sail, 
while  her  boats  were  sent  in  pursuit.  13ut  the  dai^ 
mg  American  escaped  unhurt.  Unsuccessful  a^ 
tempis  were  made  the  three  following  nights.  Bui 
on  the  24th  Mr.  Mix  took  his  position  within  one 
hundred  yprds  of  the  Plantaganet,  and  in  a  direction^ 
with  her  larboard  bow.  The  machine  was  dropped 
into  the  water,  and  the  same  moment  ^the  sentin 
cried  "  All's  well :"  the  tide  swept  it  towards 
vessel,  but  it  exploded  a  few  seconds  m  loon. 
column  of  water  fifty  feet  in  circumference  wi 
thrown  up  thirty  or  forty  feet.^  Its  appearance  wni 
a  vivid  red,  tinged  with  purple  at  the  sides,    lie 


r^"« 


% 


164 


IfAVAI,    BATTLES. 


snmDiit  of  the  column  burst  with  a  tremendous  explo- 
sion^  and  fell  on  the  deck  of  the  Plantaganet  in  tm- 
rents,  while  she  rolled  iiiio  the  yawning  cbasTij  be- 
low, and  nearly  upset.  She  however  receiv  fd  bu.;". 
little  injury.  *< 

In  the  month  of  JUI31;  the  bio«^kiding  squa  Ton 
again  sailed  up  ^he  Chesapc>^ke  and  entered  the  Po- 
tomac :  they  however  effected  nothing.  Soon  siUr 
riettfsning  out  of  the  river  thej  sai!*}4  toward  the 
hejtd  of  thf!  Chesapeake.  They  landed  on  Kemt 
islfaiid,  wh^*^  they  ramaiirted  for  some  time,  wheii 
they  again  1reryrii€ti  dcwa  the  bay. 

On  the  6th  ti  April  ike  blockading  squadron  in  the 
Delawitre  b?t¥  eommeaced  a  cannonade  on  Lewis- 
to^w^,  t^e  inhabitants  of  which  had  refused  comply- 
ing with  an  order  of  the  English  commodore,  to  sup- 
|i|y  the  squadron  with  provisions.  The  cannciiiade 
Idited  ftbout  twenty-two  houts :  a  number  of  eighteen 
'xBd  thitty-two  pottnd  shot  Were  fired,  likewise  slioHs 
hiJi  Congireve  rockets;  but  produced  littTe  or  no 
effect — not  a  life  wa^i  lost.    Thi%  inhabitants  of  the 

te  were  prompt  in  repelling  every  attempt  to 


On  tbe  27th  of  July,  due  6f  the  United  States  gun 
t|Gl8t8  was'  captured  in  the  Deliaware  by  a  superior 
fytce,  af^erV  ^ery  g$^ant  defence,  in  which  the 
>Q|itish  hadi^evea  men  killed  and  twelve  wounded.^ 


k 


•  Clark's  Ntval  Hiitdry,  ftA.  i.  p^  IB^I^T. 


w.^ 


t 


XAVAL    BATTLES. 


166 


k 


*  GUN  BOAT  ACTION 

On  the  19th  of  May,  commodore  Lewis,  commaod- 
ing  the  United  States  flotilla  on  the  New  York  sta- 
tion, discovered  the  enemy  in  pursuit  of  a  brig  under 
American  colours  standing  for  Sandy  Hook  ;  when 
he  ordered  a  detachment  of  eleven  gun  boats  to  pro- 
ceed to  sea  and  pass  between  the  chase  and  the  en- 
emy, by  which  means  to  bring  him  H>  action,  and 
give  opportunity  to  the  chaise  to  escape — all  Which 
was  effected ;  and  the  enemy,  after  receiving  the  fire 
of  thu^boats  bore  away. 

OM  the  2dd,  commodore  Lewis  engaged  the  ^0b- 
mji  before  New  London,  and  (^ned  a  passage  for 
forty  sail  of  coasting  vessels ;  the  action  lasted  three 
hoiti;^  in  which  the  flotilla  snfiered  very  little,  ail} 
"^llnt^c&imttg  on,  the  action  ^ceased*  The  enen^y's 
fbvce  consist^  of  two  ships  and  ;i  sloop  of  wiir,  |nd 
fhnn  appearance  suflered  sev^rely^  as  he  was  UBwill- 
ilig  to  renew  the  action  next  moriiing.  ' . 


EVtNTS  ON  LAtE  ^lEj^ 

O^tiie  mojtthi^ofthe  8tlrof  OdtC^et,  1812,  t^ 
Blitisi^v«M«ls,  theD<Hlrfoila»(dth^  Cal6<MliV  ci^e 
dbwtt'Lake' £Hii^atld'  aiidbr6f«df  t^dbTthl^  gito  of 


Y66 


NAVAL  BATTLES. 


1*) 


K 


■ft 


the  Britbh  fort  Erie.  Lieutenant  Elliot,  of  the 
United  States  navj,  who,  at  that  time  superintended 
the  naval  affairs  on  lake  Erie,  determined  to  attack, 
and  if  possible,  to  possess  himself  of  them* 

About  this  time,  a  number  of  seamen  were  march* 
ing  from  the  sea  shore  to  the  lake.  Early  the  day 
before  the  intended  attack,  he  despatched  a  messen- 
ger to  hasten  them  ibrward.  They  arrived  about 
twelve  o'clock ;  but  he  discovered  that  they  had  only 
twenty  pistols,  and  neither  cutlasses  nor  battleaxes. 
On  application  to  general  Smyth,  he  was  supplied 
with  a  few  arms :  and  about  fifty  men  were  Jetack- 
ed  from  the  regulars,  armed  with  muskets.  :g^ 

By  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  lieutenant^lliot 
had  his  men  selected  and  stationed  in  two  boats,  fifty 
in  each. '  At  one  o'clock  on  the  following  morning, 
he  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  creek,^|iiider 
very  disadvantageous  circumstances,  his  men  hav- 
ing scarcely  had  time  to  refresh  themselves  after  a 
fauguing  march  of  five  hundred  miles.  At  three 
d'ch^ck  he  came  along  side  tl^e  British  vessels.  In  tl^<i 
space  of  tQn  minutes  ht  got  possession  of  them,  had 
secured  the  crews  as  prisoners,  and  had  them  under 
way.  The  wind,  unfortunately,  was  not  sufficiently 
strong  to  carry  them  against  a  rapid  current  into  the 
lake,  where,  ke  was  informed,  another  vessel  lay  at 
anchor.  He  was  obliged  in  running  down  the  river, 
to  pass  the  British  forts,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  round, 
grape  and  cannister  shot,  from  a  number  of  pieces  of 
heavy  ordi)anc|,  and  several  pieces  of  flying  ar^le- 
ry«  ,  yeutenaiit  Elliot  w^is  compelled  to  ipchor,  at 


ITATAL   BATTLES. 


167 


h<i 


a  distance  of  about  four  hundred  yards  from  two  of 
their  batteries.  After  the  discharge  of  the  first  gun 
he  hailed  the  British  officer,  and  observed  to  him, 
that  if  another  gun  were  fired  he  would  bring  the 
prisoners  on  deck  and  expose  them  to  the  same  fate 
with  the  Americans.  But,  notwithstanding  they 
continued  to  keep  up  a  constant  and  destructive  fire 
a  moment's  reflection  determined  him  not  to  com- 
mit an  act  of  such  barbarity.  The  Caledonia  had 
been  beached  in  as  safe  a  position  as  circumstances 
would  admit  of,  under  one  of  the  American  batteries 
at' Black  Rock.  « 

Lieutenant  £Iliot  now  brought  all  the  guns  of  his 
vessel  on  her  side  next  the   enemy,  and  a  fire  was 
kept  up  until  all  his  ammunition   was  expended. 
During  the  contest  he   endeavoured  to  get  the  Pe- 
troit  on  the  American  side,  but  did  not  succeed.    He 
then  determined  to  drift  down  the  rive?,  out  of  reach 
of  the  British  Batteries,  and  make  a  stand  against 
their  flying  artillery.     He  accordingly  ordered  tbe^ 
cable  to  be  cut,  and  made  sail  with  a  very  light 
breeze.     At  this  moment  he.  discovered  that  his  pi-"^ 
lot  had  abandoned  him.     He  dropped  astern  for^ 
about  ten  minutes,  when  he  was  brought  up  on  Squaw^ 
island,  near  the  American  shore.    A  boat  with  pri^ 
soners  was  sent  on  shore ;  bin,  owing  to^  the  difficul- 
ty it  met  with  did  not  return.    He,' faoireirer^TvUh* 
the  remainder  of  the  prisoners  and  crew,  succeeded - 
in  getting  on  shore. 

About  eleven  o'clock  next  momiRg,  f  company  of 
British  regulars  from  fort^.£rie,  boarded  the  SlMifoit. 


m 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


>. 


Yh- 


•i;f: 


10  ^ttoy  the  military  siores  with  which  she  was  pri»- 
^ifiaUy  laden.  But  they  were  dislodged  bj  a  dctach- 
pevt  of  voltinteers  under  th^  command  of  major  Cy- 
renus  Cbapin.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  ^afternoon 
of  the  same  day,  the  British  a  second  tisoe  attempt- 
ed to  board  the  Detroit ;  but  were  again  repulsed. 

The  Detroit  mounted  six  long  six  pounders,  and 
had  a  crew  of  fifty-six  men.  About  thirty  American 
pfisoaers  were  on  board  her.  She  was  burnt  by  the 
Americans  after  they  had  taken  the  greater  part  of 
lie  itores  ouit  of  her.  The  Caledonia  mounted  two 
small  guns,  and  had  a  crew  of  twelve  men.  She 
hud  on  hmxd,m  cargo  of  furs,  estimated  at  about  one 
lljimdred  mi4  lifty  thousand  dollars. 

{pil  tl^ch  1813)  captain  Perry  arrived  at  the  port  of 
J{;ii^,  to  tfike  command  of  the  fleet  there  fitting  out. 
',  Purpiig  the  summer  the  following  American  veir 
t0ik  werei  «qii^^  on  lake  Erie. 

Gttw. 
20 
20| 

A-  • 
4 


ling  l4awi^iiee; 

Cidedoua 
Sohiu  Aiifil  * 

f^y  Homely. 
TIgiwss 
Bosempne 


Conunaodttra. 
Oi  H.  Peny^ 
J.  D.  Elliot 
Turner. 
Packet* 
Chamyliiii 


Ohio 


Zk2i  9mmh  Almyi* 
It  Qoftklufc 

1  MthK 

1  Wttm 


!|l 


55 


^- 


NATAL    BATT    «*.«. 


The  British  fleet  ander  the  command  of  commo^ 
dore  Barclay,  consisted  of  the  following  vessels. 


Hrt. 


HowiiMri. 
2 
1 
t 


♦». 


Oani. 
Ship  Detroit  19 

Queen  Charlotte  17 
Schr.  Lady  Prevost  13 
Brig  Hunter  10 

Sloop  Little  Belt  5 

Schf.  Chippeway  1 


63  guns. 

On  the  mornirig  of  the  tenth  of  Septelllber  the 
British  ileet  was  discovered  by  commodore  Perry 
from  Put  in  Bay,  where  he  then  hiy  Ht  linchor. 
Commodore  Perry  immediately  got  under  way  with 
his  squadhm,  and  stood  for  the  British  fleet.  The 
wind  at  that  time  wds  light  fropn  southwest.  At  fif- 
teen minutes  before  twelve,  the  British  commenced 
firing  :  and  at  five  mtntites  before  twelve,  the  action 
commenced  on  the  part  of  the  Amerieans.  As  th^ 
fire  of  the  British,  owing  to  their  long  gtiiis,  was  very 
severe  upon  the  Americans,  and  was  principally  ^- 
rected  at  this  <  Lawrence,  commodore  Pferry  res  -hed 
to  close  with  thent :  he  asecordingly  made  sa?l,  '.^bi! 
ordered  Ae  other  vessels  to  follow.  Every  brace 
and  bowfiiite  of  the  LiewreUce  being  shot  away,  she 
became  unmanageable,  notwithstanding  the  great 
exertions  of  the  sailing  master.  In  this  sitttation  she 
sustained  the  action,  within  cannist^  distance,  up* 

wards  of  two  hours,  until  every  gun  was  rendered 

22 


H' 


■% 


170 


WAVAL    BATTLES. 


iuel«iB,  and  the  greater  part  of  her  crew  either  kiHed 
or  wounded. 

After  a  display  of  skill  and  gallantry,  which,  alone, 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  have  immortalized 
commodore  Perry — after  defending  his  vessel  against 
a  far  superior  force,  to  the  very  last  extremity,  this 
illustrious  hero,  at  a  critical  moment,  when,  to  al- 
most any  other  mind,  the  contest  would  have  appear- 
ed hopeless,  resolved  to  save  his  country's  honour,  or 
perish  in  the  attempt.  He  therefore  quitted  the 
Lawrence  in  an  open  boat,  and  rowed  off  for  the 
Niagara,  to  make  one  more  display  of  his  heroism 
and  talents.  In  his  passage,  there  was  no  less  than 
three  broadsides  fired  at  him  by  tlie  British  vessels, 
which  he  passed.  Heaven  interposed  its  protecting 
arm.  He  escaped  the  apparently  inevitable  destruc- 
tion. He  reached  the  Niagara  in  safety,  and  a  breeze 
springing  up,  enabled  captain  Elliot,  who  commanded 
that  vessel,  to  bring  her  into  (;lose  action  in  a  very 
gallant  manner.  Captain  Elliot  anticipated  the  com- 
modore's desires  by  volunteering  to  bring  the  schoon- 
ersi  wliich  had,  by  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  been 
^  j^ept  astern,  into  close  action.  Some  time  after  com- 
modore Perry  had  left  the  Lawr;,nce  her  flag  was 
lowered  ;  for  having  been  so  long  exposed  to  nearly 
the  whole  fire  of  the  British  fl^et,  she  was  almost 
cut  to  pieces;  and  the  chief  part  of  her  crew  disabled, 
oiily;  ciigbt  men  remaining  capable  of  doing  duty. 
The  British  however  were  not  in  a  state  to  take  pos- 
SjBssion  of  her,  and  circumstances  soon  permitted  her 
to  b«  again  hoisted.    At  forty-five  minutfis  paist 


,  "*■ 


,W' 


NATAL    BATTLI8. 


m\ 


tW0|  the  signal  was  made  for  close  action.  As  the 
Niagara  was  very  little  injured,  commodore  Perrjr 
determined  to  pass  through  the  enemy's  line  with 
her.  He  accordingly  bore  up,  and  passed  ahead  of 
:heir  two  ships  and  a  brig,  giving  a  raking  fire  to 
them  from  his  larboard  side,  at  half  pistol  shot  dis- 
tance. The  smaller  vessels  were  by  this  time  with- 
in grape  and  cannister  distance,  under  the  direction 
of  captain  Elliot.  The  severe  and  well  directed  fire 
from  them  and  the  Niagara,  forced  the  two  ships,  the 
brig,  and  a^  schooner  to  surrender.  A  sloop  and 
schooner  attempted  to  escape,,  but  were  overtaken 
and  captured. 

The  Lawrence  was  so  completely  cut  up,  ^hat 
•after  the  action,  she  was  sent  to  Erie  to  be  disman- 
tled. Lieutenant  Ys^rnell,  upon  Whom  the  command 
fof  the  Lawrence  devolved  after  the  commodore  left 
her,  refused  to  quit  the  deck  though  several  times 
wounded.  Lieutenant  Brooke  of  the  marines,  and 
midshipman  Saul,  were  both  killed  on  board  the 
Lawrence.  As  the  surgeon  of  this  vessel  was  stoop- 
ing, in  the  act  of  dressing  or  examining*  a  wound,  a 
ball  passed  through  the  ship  a  few  inches  from  his 
head,  which,  had  it  been  erect  must  have  been  tak- 
en off.  Mr.  Hambleton,  purser,  distinguished  him- 
self, and  towards  the  close  of  the  action  was  severe- 
ly wounded. 

On  board  the  Niagara,  lieutenants  Smith  a|td  Ed- 
wards and  midshipman  Webster  behaved  iiWVery 
handsome  manner.  Captain  Brevoort  of  the  army, 
who,  with  the  men  under  his  commauid»  had  volun- 


J  li 


% 


1  »{ 


Ml 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


teered,  to  act  as  marines,  did  great  execution  with 
his  musketry.  Lieutenant  Turner,  who  command- 
ed the  Caledonia,  brought  his  vessel  into  action  in 
the  most  gallant  style.  The  Ariel,  lieutenant  Pack- 
et, and  Scorpion,  sailing  master  Champlin,  got  early 
into  the  action,  and  were  of  great  service.  The  pur- 
ser ^Magrath  performed  essential  service.  Captain 
£)iliot  particularly  distinguished  himself  by  his  exer- 
tion and  ^kill. 

The  following  is  an  estimate  of  the  killed  and 
iFOundeid  on  board  the  American  fleet. 


• 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

Total 

Lawrence 

22 

61 

83 

Niagara 

2 

25 

27 

Caledonia 

3 

3 

Somers 

2 

2 

Ariel 

1 

3 

4 

Trippe 

2 

2 

Scorpion 

2 

2 

<■/'. 


-J  ?«>- 


ki 


J^vf  f 


96 


123 


■  Of  the  British  fleet  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant  c^ 
th?  Queen  Charlotte,  were  killed.  Commodore  Bar- 
clay of  the  Lady  Prevost  was  severely  wounded,  and 
Iqst  liis  )\and.  The  loss  of  ,the  British  in  kiUed  and 
wounded  has  been  estimated  at  one  hundred  and  sixty. 
The  rejoicing  at  this  victory  ju  the  United  States, 
was  extremely  great.  All  the  principal  towns  were 
illuminated,* 

4^Cl|i|^'«  K»vil  Itiitory,  vol.  i.  p.  S^i  •--223. 


-«!.. 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


m 


ETENTS  ON  LAKE  ONTARIO. 

For  a  long  time  previous  to  tile  war,  the  British 
had  been  actively  employed  in  equipping  Vessels  of 
war  on  lake  Ontario.  On  the  19th  of  Ju!/18)2, 
^n  after  the  declaration  of  war  redched  Sackett^s 
harbour,  lieutenant  Woolsey,  of  the  American  brig 
Oneida,  then  lying  in  Sackett's  harbour,  discovered 
from  the  mast  head  five  sail  of  British  armed  vessels 
namely,  the  Roys|l  George,  of  twenty-four  guns ;  the 
Prince  Hegent,  a  new  ship  carrying  upwards  of  twen^ 
ty  guns,  the  Earl  Moira  of  twenty,  the  Seneca  of 
eight,  the  other  unknown.  They  were  about  five 
leagues  distant,  beating  up  for  th^e  harbour  with  the 
wind  ahead.  The  troops  were  immediately  called  to 
arms  and  despatches  sent  for  the  troops  in  the  vicini- 
ty, whp  assemble^,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  three 
thousand.  Soon  ^fter  sunrise  the  Prince  Regeitt 
brought  to,  /and  captured  the  custom  house  boat, 
about  seven  miles  from  the  harbour.  The  crew  of 
the  boat  were  set  on  shore,  with  a  message  to  colohel 
Belleyer,  the  commandant  at  the  harbour,  demfttfd- 
ing  the  surrender  of  the  Oneidi^,  and  the  fate  British 
schooner  I^clson,  seized  tor  a  breach  of  the  revenue 
laws,  and  then  fitting  out  as  an  ^med  vessel.  In 
case  of  refusal,  the  British  threatened  to  bum  the 
village,  and  lay  the  inhabitants  Under  contribution. 

Soon  after  this  lieutenant  Woolsey  kft  the  hairhour 
in  the  Oneida,  and  ran  down.withifft  a  leagUi  of  the 
British.    But  he  soon  returned,  and  moored  his  vessel 


•**»< 


% 


m 


NAVAL    BATTLES. < 


I   1 


in  a  line  with  a  land  battery  lately  erected.  Lieu* 
tenant  Woolsey  then  left  his  vessel,  in  order  to  direct 
the  guns  of  the  land  battery.  By  this  time  the  Brit- 
ish ^eet  had  arrived  within  gunshot.  The  Royal 
George,  as  flag  ship,  was  ahead.  A  brisk  firing  com- 
menced on  both  sides,  and  continued  upwards  of  two 
hoqrs^  The  Royal  George  and  Prince  Regent  were 
much  injured.  As  the  former  was  veering  to  give  a 
broadside,  a  shot  from  an  American  thirty-two  pound- 
er, was  observed  to  strike  her  and  completely  rake 
her.-  Soon  after  this  the  squadron  bore  away  for 
Kingston.     None  of  the  Americans  were  injured. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  the  Julia,  carrying  three  guns 
was  attacked  by  the  British  armed  vessels  Earl 
Moira,  of  sixteen  gvms,  and  the  Duke  of  Gloucester 
of  ten,  at  the  entrance  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
beat  them  both  off. 

In  September,  captain  Isaac  Chauncey  was'  ap- 
pointed to  command  the  American  fleet  on  lake  On- 
tario, then  lying  in  Sackett's  harbour,  where  he  ar- 
rived in  the  month  of  October.  In  the  early  part  of 
November,  he  sailed  with  his  fleet  from  Sackett's 
harbour  :  the  aggregate  of  guns  of  the  American  ves- 
sels amounted  to  forty,  their  crews  to  four  hundred 
and  thirty  men  ;  that  of  the  British  to  one  hundred 
mid  eight  guns,  and  their  crews  to  eight  hundred  and 
ninety  men. 

On  tjjie  8th, commodore  Chauncey  fellin  with  the 
Royal  George,  and  chased  he;  into  Quinte  Bay; 
where  he  lost  sight  of  her  in  tho  night ;  but  on  the 
morning  of  the  9th,  she  was  perceived  lying  in 


'•?*'* 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


176 


Kftt^ton  channel.  She  was  immediatiBly  followed 
into  the  harbour  of  Kingston.  He  there  engaged  her 
while  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  land  batteries,*  for 
upwards  of  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  Night  coming  on 
he  haled  off  with  the  intention  of  renewing  the  at 
tack  next  morning  ;  but  this  the  weather  prevented. 

On  the  10th,  the  commodore  fell  in  with  the  Govi4 
ernor  Simcoe,  which  however  succeeded  in  escaping 
into  the  harbour  of  Kingston.  In  passing  through 
the  bay  of  Quinte,  two  British  trading  vessels  were 
captured.  On  the  12th  he  returned  to  Sackett's 
harbour. 

'On  the  26th  of  November,  the  ship  Madison  was 
launched  at  Sackett's  harbour.  ^ 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1813,  the  United  States 
had  the  following  vessels  equipped  on  lake  Ontario 

Guns 

Ship  Madison  24            . 
Brig  Oneida                                  ;♦  /•    18 

Schooner  Governor  Tompkins  .6 

Hamilton  9 

Julia  .  2 

Elizabeth  2    ,. 

Lady  of  the  Lake  S 

Conquest  8 

Growler  6 

Pert  S 

Fair  American  4 

Ontario  1 

Scourge  8 

OS 


m 


NAVAL   BATTtES* 


¥     .> 


;  Also  the  Mary,  bombvessel.  During  the  summer 
the  General  Pike  of  thirty-two  guns,  was  added  to 
the  fleet. 

The  British  fleet  in  the  spring  consisted  of  tht 
following  vessels :  •  . 

Guns. 
The  frigate  General  Wolfe  3^ 

Ship  Royal  George  22  ? 

Prince  Regent  16  i 

Brig  Eari  Moira  12 

Seven  schooners  of  from  four  to  eight  guns  each> 

On  the  25th  of  April  the  American  fleet,  under 
commodore  Chauncey,  left  Sackett's  harbour  for  the 
purpose  of  conveying  the  expedition^  under  the  com- 
mand of  major  general  Dearborn,  against  the  British 
post  at  York.  At  this  place  the  fleet  arrived  on  the 
27th.  The  landing  of  the  troops  was  covered  in  a 
masterly  manner  by  the  commodore.  The  Ameri- 
cans succeeded  in  their  attack  upon  the  town :  but 
unfortunately;  the  ever  «o  be  lamented  brigadier 
general  Pike,  was  killed  by  explosion.  A  midship- 
man and  some  seamen  of  the  fleet  iiveie  killed. 

CgilHModore  Chauncey,  after  haviug  returned  to 
Sackett's  harbour  from  York,  again  sailed,  on  the 
22d  of  May  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  in  the 
reduction  of  the  British  fort  George,  which  was  at- 
tacked on  the  28th.  The  vessels  of  the  American 
squadron  were  judiciously  stationed  to  cover  the 
landing  of  the  troops,  and  to  silence  the  land  batte- 
ries of  the  British  ;  in  the  latter  they  soon  succeed- 
ed ;  wlisn  a  landing  was  efiected,  and  the  fort  taken 


NAtAL   BATTLES. 


iii 


Captain  Perry  hfld  come  down  from  lake  Erie,  and 
was  in  tMs  engagi^ment.  He  rendered  particular 
^service  to  the  commodore  by  assisting  in  arranging 
and  superintending  the  delmrkation  of  the  troops, 
Oi^  boaird  the  fleet  only  one  man  was  killed,  and  two 
Wionnded; 

On  the  29th  of  May,  during  the  absence  of  the 
American  fleet,  the  British  fleet,  consisting  of  the 
Wolfe,  RoyAl  George,  Prince  Regent,  Earl  Moira, 
two  armed  schooners,  and  a  nnmber  of  gun  boats. 
With  a  detach^^t  of  the  Brivish  armj,  from  Kings- 
tdh,  attkdked  Sadketf^s  faarbom  ;  they  Were  hoWev- 
^  gallantly  repulsed  by  the  troops  under  the  com- 
iti^nd  of  brigadier  geneitil  Brown.  A  few  days  after 
iifhis  tf£fair  the  Ahi^irksan  fleet  rt^tumed  to  Sackett's 
l^botir.  ^^^^ 

Iki  th6  laftterpart  df  July,  commodore  Chauncey  left 
Saekett'^  harbour  With  Ms  fleet,  and  on  the  27th  of 
^t  same  Wibnth  arrived  dff*  Niagara.  Having  there 
takish  abdtrt  two  hnndred  and  fifty  infantry  on  boaird, 
fn^^^  s^.  It  h^d  been  i^solved  to  attack  an  encattip- 
n^eM  Of  th«  Br^ish  ;  but  th^  latter  being  in  greater 
fbr^6  thkii  had  been  Siilppos^d,  the  attentpt  Was  aban- 
ddMid ;  and  tha  fl6et  proceeded  to  Yoiic,  where  th6^ 
«l!Ari(i^^  'ttM  soldievs  were  landed,  under  coYond 
BtbiH.  A  V^ry  cou^iierabte  cfnantity  df  British  stores 
Wtre  ^ther  de^r^y^d  or  ciyifVeyed  on  board  tht  fleet. 
The  batracks  ^tnd  pdblick  store  houses  werie  burnt 
Thfe  fl6*?e  thenlftetnmind  to  Niagara.  ^ 

Oh  th^  7th  df  Anpst  at  daylight,  the  British  fleet, 

c^ltisSMtlng  Of  tm  ithips,  irwo  brigs,  and  two  larg^ 
23 


I 

I 
1 


m 


NAVAL    BATTLISS. 


t 


schooners,  were  discovered  bearing  w.  n.  w.  ?  hey 
were  about  five  or  six  miles  distant,  and  the  wn  1  at, 
west  Commodore  Chauncey^  having  passed  the  lee*^ 
ward  of  the  British  line,  and  abreast  of  their  van  v  hip, 
the  Wolfe,  hoisted  American  colours  ;  and  fired  9  few 
guns  to  ascertain  whether  the  .British  vessels  <  ould 
be  reached  by  his  shot.  But  discovering  that  they 
fell  shorty  he  wore  and  haled  upon  a  wind  on  the 
starboard  tack.  The  rearmost  of  the  Ameiican 
schooners  was  tl^en  about  six  miles  astern.  The 
British  wore  in  succession  ;  and  haled  upor^  f-i  wind 
oa  the  same  tack ;  but  perceiving  the  Americans 
would  be  enabled  to  weather  them  upon  the  ne:^t 
tack,  they  tacked,  and  made  all  sail  to  the  noith- 
\.  d  d.  As  soon  as  the  rear  vessels  of  the  Aoierican 
squadron  could  reach  the  w?ike  of  the  British,  they 
tacked,  and  made  all  sail- in  chase.  In  the  afternoon 
the  wind  became  very  light,  and  towards  night  a 
calm  succeeded.  The  Anaerican  ischoonecs  used 
their  sweeps  all  the  afternoon,  in  endeavours  to  close 
with  the  British,  but  without  success.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  commodore  Chauncey  made  the  signal  of 
recall,  and  formed  in  close  order.  During  the  night,L. . 
the  wind  was  from  the  westward;  and  after  mi47 
night  squally.  All  hands  were  kept  at  quarters,  an4 
the  vessels  beat  to  windward,  in  expectation  of  gain^f 
ing  the  wind  of  the  British.  Duri  g  the  night  the 
two  best  American  schooners  were  upset,  in  a  heavy 
squall  of  wind,  and  sunk.  Only  sixteen  persons  weriei 
saved  from  th^m ;  all  the  rest  perished.  The  names 
of  the  schooners  were  the  Hamilton  and  Scourge, 


NA¥AL     BATTLES. 


179 


mounting  together  nineteen  guns.  Tbis  accident 
gave  the  British  a  decided  superiority.  Commodore 
Chauncey  expected  the  British  would  take  advan- 
tage of  this  superiority  ;  and  the  more  so  as  by  a 
change  of  wind  they  were  brought  right  to  windward 
o(  him.  He  accordingly  formed  his  line  upon  the  lar- 
board tack,  and  hove  to.  Soon  after  the  British  bore 
up  and  set  studding  sails,  apparently  with  the  inten- 
tion of  bringing  the  Americans  to  action.  When 
they  had  approached  within  four  miles,  they  brought 
10  on  the  starboard  tack.  The  Americans  then  wore, 
and  brought  to,  on  the  same  tack.  Commodore 
Chauncey  perceiving  the  British  did  not  intend  bring- 
ing him  to  action,  edged  away  towards  the  shore,  in 
order  to  take  advantage  of  the  land  breeze  in  the  af- 
ternoon. It  soon  after  became  calm,  when  he  direct- 
ed his  schooners  to  sweep  up  and  engage  the  British. 
About  noon  a  light  breeze  blew  from  the  eastward. 
The  commodore  then  took  the  Oneida  in  *tow,  and 
made  sail  towards  the  British.  When  the  van  of  the 
American  schooners  was  within  one  and  a  half  or 

^  two  miles  of  the  rear  of  the  Biitish,  the  wind  shift- 
ed to  the  westward,  which  again  brought  the  latter 
to  windward  ;  when  they  bore  up  to  the  American 

'  schooners  in  order  to  cut  them  off,  before  they  could 
be  rejoined  by  commodore  Chauncey.  But  the 
schooners  succeeded  in  returning  to  their  station. 
The  British  being  thus  foiled  in  their  attempt  upon 
the  schooners,  haled  their  wind,  and  hove  to.  Tl» 
weather  becoming  very  sqpally,  commodore  Chaui'^ 
cey  resolved  to  run  w  towards  Niagaiti.    The  creirs 


.Ji^Ktj 


180 


KAFAL    BATTLES. 


of  the  squftdron  were  nearly  forty^eig^t  konvB  m 
quarter*.  A  detachment  of  one  huMke^  and  fifty 
soldiers  was  received  on  board  the  American  fleet 
from  Niagara,  to  act  as  marines.  On  the.  ftrflowing 
morning  the  British  fleet  was  discovered  bearing 
north.  The  American  commodore  immediately 
weighed  anchor,  Md  stood  for  them.  The  winds 
were  light  tind  variable,  and  by  twelve  o'clock  were 
quite  calnt.  At  flve«  a  fresh  breeze  blew  from  th^ 
north ;  the  British  fleet  then  bearing  north,  about 
four  or  five  leagues  distant.  The  Vessels  of  the 
American  fleet  wore  in  succession,  and  haled  upon  a 
wind  Oft  the  larboard  tack.  At  sunset,  th6  British 
bbre  n*  w.  by  N.  6n  th^  starbotird  tack.  The  wind 
changing  towards  the  Westward,  the  Amtricah  com- 
modore stood  to  the  northward  all  night  in  eifder  f6 
giiin  the  north  shore.  At  daybreak  he  tadked  to  the 
Westward,  the  wind  hdving  then  changed  to  n.  it.  W. 
Boon  after  which  he  discovered  the  British  fleet, 
bearing  ».  w.  The  commodore  made  all  sail  in  chase 
with  the  Asj^,  MddfSon,  and  Fair  Amerieaitt  hi  tot^^ ' 
To  his  great  disajf^intment,  the  wind  aboat  twelve . 
oVIoek  changed  «o  Wr  d.  w.  which  agikin  broiNght  the 
British  to  windward.  The  coinmodore  tardked  to 
the  northward;  bttt  at  three  o'clock,  the  wind  itf* 
dining  to  the  nwth,  he  worf^  to  south  and  went,  and 
made  signa!  fo>:  the  fleet  to  Make  al!  sail.  At  fbur, 
the  British  hvfe^  s.  s.  w.  The  Amifericans  steered  ^ 
after  ihera.  At  five^  the  former  were  bcfcaliMf  under 
the  hmd,  wkie  thit  lattefr«ear^  tbetii  tery  ftst  with 
a  &K  breeze  from  n.  n.  w.    At  Six,  the  Attiericatti 


KMin  at 
ad  fifty 
in  fleet 

bearing 

ediatelj 

I  winds 

jk  were 

rom  tht 

t  about 

6f  the 

apoti  a 

British 

)e  wind 

ihcoiii'^ 

itdet  f6 

1  to  the 

.  It.  W* 

fleet, 

chase 

tot4  ' 

Itwelve . 

ht  the 

ed  to 

\wi  irf* 

It,  and 

ibur, 

jcred 

limdet 

WTCn 


VAYAL    BATTLES. 


lei 


jformed  in  line  within  four  mites  of  the  British ;  the 
wind  being  then  very  light.  At  s^ven  the  wind  chang- 
ed to  B.  w.  blew  a  fresh  breeze.  This  placed  the  Brit- 
iih  to  windward.  The  American  commodore  then 
tacked,  and  haled  u{k>n  a  wind  on  the  larboard  tack, 
under  easy  sail,  the  British  standing  after  him.  At 
nine  in  the  evening,  the  British  were  within  double 
gun  shot  of  the  rear  of  the  Americans.  They  then 
wore  to  the  southward.  Commodore  Chauncey 
stood  to  the  porth  under  easy  sail,  with  his  fleet 
formed  in  two  lines  :  a  part  of  the  schooners  formed 
the  weather  line.  They  were  ordered  to  commence 
the  fire  upon  the  British  as  sov)n  as  the  shot  of  the 
latter  should  take  effect ;  and,  as  they  approached, 
to  edge  down  upon  the  American  line  to  leeward, 
pass  through  the  intervals,  and  form  to  leeward.  At 
half  past  ten,  the  British  tacked,  and  stood  after  the 
Americans.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  rear  of  the  Amer- 
ican liae  opened  a  brisk  fire  upon  the  British,  and 
in  the  course  of  fifteen  minutes  the  fire  became  general 
along  the  weather  line  of  the  Americans.  At  half 
pa«t  eleven  this  line  bore  up,  and  passed  to  leeward, 
except  the  Growler  and  Julia.  These  two  vessels 
ticked  to  the  south,  which  brought  the  British  be- 
^tween  them  and  their  commodore.  The  latter  filled 
his  main-topsail,  and  edged  away  two  points  to  lead 
the  Britbh  down  i  tl^s  he  did  in  oroci  to  engage 
them  to  greater  advantage,  and  to  lead  them  from 
the  Growler  and  Julia.  They  however  kept  their 
wind  until  they  separated  these  two  last  mentioned 
vessels  from 'the  rest  of  the  American  squadron.    As 


182 


NATAL    BATTLLB. 


they  passed  the  Of>ncral  Pike,  a  few  shots  were  ei- 
changed  without  <  ng  any  injury.  While  the  British 
were  in  chase  of  the  two  schooners,  the  comnauhvte 
tacked  and  stood  after  them  until  midnight  when  he 
was  forced  to  give  over  the  pursuit  to  rejoin  his 
squadron,  then  to  leeward.  Their  line  was  now 
formed  on  the  starboard  tack.  The  firing  continued 
between  the  two  American  schooners  and  the  Brit> 
ish  fleet  until  one  o'clock,  when  the  former  were 
captured.  Soon  after  this,  the  American  jQeet  being 
nearly  destitute  of  provisions,  returned  to  Sackett's 
harbour. 

During  a  cruise  in  the  earl}^  part  of  September, 
commodore  Chauncey  fell  in  with  the  British  fleet 
and  phased  them  all  round  the  lake,  when  they  put 
into  Amherst  bay,  after  having  received  considerable 
injury  from  tm  fire  of  the  Americans.  This  bay 
was  so  lit'H  kiicwn  to  the  American  pilots,  that  they 
were  unwiihi>g  to  take  the  fleet  in.  Sir  James  Yeo, 
commander  of  the  British  fleet,  had  a  superiority 
over  the  American  commodore,  both  in  guns  and 
men.  His  vessel  also  sailed  better  than  the  Ameri- 
can. 

Commodore  Chauncey  blockaded  the  British  fleet 
in  Amherst  bay  for  four  days,  when  the  wind  blowing^ 
heavy  from  the  westward,  they  succeeded  in  getting 
into  Kingston :  upon  which  the  commodore  returned  ^ 
to  Sackett's  harbour,  where  he  Remained  only  a  few 
hours,  and  on  the  18th  of  September  sailed  for  Niag- 
ara, where  he  arrived  on  the  24th. 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


183 


»  tow.     But 

3  Ameri- 

'od  out  of 

i.  he  Ameri- 


Commodore  Chauncey  having  ascertained  that  the 
British  scjuadrop  was  in  York  bay,  sailed  from  Niag- 
ara* On  the  27th,  in  the  evening,  owing  to  the  ex- 
treiite  darkness  of  the  night  a  part  of  his  squadron 
separated,  and  did  not  join  him  until  next  morning. 
On  the  same  day,  the  British  fleet  was  discovered 
under  way  in  York  bay.  The  A  me  r  an  squadron 
sailed  for  them  with  three  scho' 
on  the  British  perceiving  the  dc 
cans  to  engage  them,  they  tackeu, 
the  bay,  the  wind  being  then  at  east, 
can  commodore  formed  his  line,  and  ran  down  for 
their  centre.  As  soon,  however,  as  he  had  approach- 
ed within  three  miles,  they  made  all  sail  to  the  south- 
ward. The  vessels  of  the  American  squadron  wore 
in  succession,  and  stood  on  the  same  tack  with  the 
British,  and  edged  down  gradually  in  order  to  close. 
At  ten,  past  meridian,  the  British  perceiving  the 
Americans  closing  fast  with  them,  and  that  they 
must  either  risk  an  action,  or  suffer  their  two  rear 
vessels  to  be  cut  off,  they  tacked  in  succession,  begin- 
ning at  the  van,  hoisted  their  colours,  and  commenc- 
ed a  well  directed  fire  at  the  Pike.  This  they  did 
with  a  view  to  cover  their  rear;  and,  while  passing 
to  leeward,  to  attack  the  rear  of  the  Americans. 
This  commodore  Chauncey  frustrated  by  bearing  up 
in  succession,  with  the  line  preserved,  for  the  centre 
of  the  British,  as  soon  as  their  leading  ship,  the 
Wolfe,'  bad. passed  the  centre  of  her  line,  and  was 
abeam  of  the  American.  This  manceuvre  not  only 
covered  the  American  rear,  but  also  threw  the  Brit- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Sdences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRHT 

WEBSTIR.N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


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134 


IfAYAL    BATTLES. 


ishra  confusion.     They  immediatelj  bore  sway\ 
bot  the  Americans  had  closed  so  near  as  to  be  enidbM 
to  bring  their  guns  to  biear  with  effect,  and  iti  twen* 
tj  minutes  after,  the  main  and  mizzen-topmast,  and 
the  main  jard  of  the  British  frigate  WoHe,  was  shot 
away.      This   vessel  immediafely  put  before  the 
wind,  with  all  sail  set  upon  hier  foremast.    The 
American  commodore  made  signal  for  the  fleet  to 
crowd  all  sail  in  pursuit  i  but  as  the  WfAfk  kept  right 
before  the  wind,  she  was  enabled  to  outsail  the 
American  squadron,  and  experienced  no  retardment 
from  the  loss  of  her  mafai  and  mhuen^topmast.    Thjj 
,  Americans  obntinued    the  thi|^  until  icnnr  three 
o'clock*    Th^  Pike,  ft^itk  the  Asp  in  towy  kept  with« 
in  point  blank  shot  of  the  British  during  the  chase^ 
and  snstaiiled  the  whole  of  their  fire.    Prudence  for** 
bade  any  further  pursuit  on  the  part  of  the  American^; 
The  Pik^  was  much  injured,  owing  to  her  being  sd 
long  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  whole  Briti^  fleet* 
The  most  serious  injury,  howerer,  she  received  from 
the  bursting  of  a  gun^  which  killed  and  woUnded 
tweBty<*iwo  meh#    The  Governor  Tompkini^  lost  hef 
foremast.    The  American  fleet  i:*tUflied  to  Niagari. 
On  the  2d  of  Octobery  commodore  Chauncey  agaun 
proceeded  in  quest  of  the  British  fleet.     He  d}scover<^ ' 
ed  tkemsteeriig  a  ceinrse  for  Niagara,  whh  studding 
satis,  and  aU  iaHeset,  the  wind  being  from  the  souths 
aad  westward;    The  commodore  made  all  sail  in 
ehase,  but  as  soon  as  his  vessels  Wenf  iiKscoVere#|^ 
the  British,  they  tck)k  &  studifeig  Saijr  and  baled 
upon  »wind  to  the^westwaiiif  ,and  mader  sitt  saol  from 


RATAL    BATXIX8. 


185 


SCttt^V 

»{  ill 


from 


the  Americans.  The  wind  being  light  all  day»  little 
progress  was  made  against  the  curreat.  By  sua 
down,  the  British  were  off  Twenty  Mile  Creek,  and 
had  got  a  considerable  distance  fiom  the  Amerlcttii& 
At  daylight,  the  British  were  perceived  at  anchor . 
but  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  American  squadron,  they 
v^c^hed  and  made  all  sail  to  the  weist*  The  wind 
iras  from  south  to  southwest  and  squally.  The 
American  commodore  made  all  sail  in.  ehase,  and 
continue^  it.  the  whole  day.  Al  sundown,  the  British 
fm^^  scarcely  be  perceived  froo)  the  mast  head  o| 
the  American  vessela.  Oa  the  io^o wing  morning^  the 
BritisikfleetwasLQutofsighl;.  Commodore  Chauncey 
tkm  sleered  for^he  t>uchs,.iiiith  a  view  of  inceiceptr 
iilg  the  British  fleet  on  kefetum,  should)  ii  havegoqe 
down  the  lake.  The  wind  ificreaie4  IP  a  «tr(wg 
g^^  ffo^i  the  n^prth^ani  ^MPld  westward^  apd.  cohtin- 
jpd  tohug  the  whole.  ^^^  At  three  o^eloek  u  the 
aftemcjiMi  of  the  5th,  seven  sail  were  discovered  near 
the  False  Ducks.  Sail  was  immediately  made  in 
chase  by  the  American  commodore,  who  took  them 
for  the  British'  fleet.  But  in  the  course  of  an  hour 
he  ascertained  them  to  be  sloops  and  Fchooners.  Sig- 
nal was  made  by  the  commodore  for  the  Sylph  and 
Lady  of  the  Lake  to  cast  off  the  vessels  they  had  in 
tow,  and  chase  n.  e.  Soon  after  this  the  British 
were  perceived  separating,  on  different  tacksi  The 
Governor  Tompkips  was  now  cast  off  by  tl^  Pike, 
and  the; .  cQinmodore  made  all  sail  in  chase  wilfi 
her,  having  left  the  Ameriopi  squadron  in  charge  <|(| 

captain  Crane.    At  five^o'cfibck  in  the  afternoon  the 
24 


186 


NATAL    BATTLB».^ 


'r 


l^- 


British  set  fire  to  one  of  their  gun  vessels  that  did  not 
sail  well,  after,  having  taken  out  her  people.    At  sun- 
down, and  opposite  the  Real  Ducks,  the  Hamilton, 
Confiance,*  and  Mary- Ann,  struck  to  the  Americans. 
The  Sylph  soon  after  captured  the  Drummond.    The 
Lady  Gore  ran  into  the  Ducks,  but  the  S^lph  being 
left  to  watch  her,  she  was  captured  early  the  next; 
mornipg.    The  only  British  vessel  that  escaped  Wat. 
the;  Enterprise,  a  small    schooner.      The  British! 
vessels  captured  were  three  gun  vessels  mounting 
from  one  to  three  guns  each.     They  were  transit 
porting  troops  to  Kingston.    The  number  of  pvison-^ 
ers  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  sixty-four j  of 
whom  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  were  soldiers. 
The  American  fleet  immediately  after  this  affairj  re 
turned  to  Sackett's  harbour.t  4 

*  The  Hamiiton  and  Confiance;  these  two  Teuelf  bad'nol^^,^ 
Ions  beenowtured  from  the  Anwricans,as  already  related,  and^v"^ 
haa  been  in  Q^e  American  service  called  the  Growler  and  Julia. 

t  Clark'e  Nasral  History^  vol  L  p^  2^$— 238  ,  ^  ^ 


^   If 


.^wSisiEMi^*' 


.  ^'*' 


NATAL  DATTLB8. 


187 


EVENTS  ON  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

* 

During  th^  summer  of  the  year  1812,  prepara- 
tions were  made  on  lake  Champlain  to  oppose  the 
naval  force  that  might  be  sent  by  the  British  from 
Isle-au-Noix. 

Nothing  Tery  interesting  occdrred  until  the  dd  of 
June,  1813.  In  consequence  of  some  British  gun 
hoats  having  appeared  on  the  American  side  of  the 
line,  the  Growler  and  Eagle  sailed  from  Flattsburgh 
on  the  2d  of  June,  under  the  command  of  lieuten-# 
ant  Smith,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  them. 
At  dark  bn  the  same  day,  they  arrived  within  a  mile 
o(  the  boundary  line.  On  the  following  morning,  at 
daybreak,  three  British  gun  boats  were  discovered, 
to  which  «he  American  vessels  immediately  gave 
ohas6.  But  the  wind  being  south,  they  unfortu- 
nately r^u^so. far  into  the  narrow  channel,  that  they 
found  ft  diffii^t  to  return.  .  The  Eagle  not  being 
sufficiently  strong  for  her  weight  of  metal,  became 
unmaniEigeable,  and  sunk  in  shoal  water;  her  crew 
were  however  saved.  The  Growler^  continued  en- 
gaged with  a  nujpber  of  British  gun  boats  until  the 
Eagle  went  down^  when  she  was  compelled  to  yield 
to  a  superior  force;  the  action  continued  above rfour 
hours.  T^e^shores  were  line<^with  British  soldiers 
who  from  the  nariovi^ess  of  the  channel  were  ena- 
bled to  do  considerable  execution.  ^^^  ^  ' 


■% 


tk4^ 


t'!T.C'' 


nkNOk  BAlTUi*. 

jifcitti  li&i  ^aiwniggilwfll  of  Aiipil 
[^  v^piMltiiMlllilii^ 


-f; 


v*"  s 


^.  • 


1  P. 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


189 


Jrs  crdered  out  the  militia  of  the  counties  of 
Clinton  and  Essex.     The   regiment   from  Clinton 
county,  under  lieutenant-colonel  Miller,  immediately 
assembled,  and  on  the  2d  September  took  a  position  on 
the  west  road  near  the  village  of  Chazy  ;  and  on  the 
3d  general  Wright  with  such  of  his   brigade  as  had 
arrived,  occupied  a  position  on  the  same  road  about 
eight  miles  in  advance  of  Plattsburgh.     On  the  4th 
the  enemy  having  brought  up  his  main  body  to  Cham- 
plain,  took  up  his  line  of  march  for  that  place.     The 
rifle  corps  under  lieutenant-colonel  Appling,  on  the 
lake  road,  fell  back  as  far  as  Dead   Creek,  blocking 
up  the  road  in  such  manner  as  to  impede  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  as  much  as  possible.    'The  enemy  ad- 
vanced on  the  5th  within  a  few  miles  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  Appling's  position,  and  finding  it  too  strong 
to  attack,  halted  and  caused  a  road  to  be  made  west 
into  the  Beekmantown  road,  in  which  the  light  bri- 
gade under  general  Powers  advanced,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  6th,  about  seven  o'clock,  attacked 
the  militia,  which  had  at  this  time  increased  to  near- 
ly seven  hundred,  under  general  Mooers,  and  a  small 
detachment  of  regulars  under  major  Wool,  about  se- 
ven miles  from  Plattsburgh.     After  the  first  fire,  a 
considerable  part  of  the  militia  broke  and  fled  in 
every  direction.     Many,   however,   manfully  stood" 
their  ground,  and,  with  the  small  corps  of  wdjor  Wool, 
bravely  contested  the  ground,  againat  Sye  times  their 
number,  falling  back  gradually  2i»d  occupying^^  Ae 
fences  on  each  side  the  road,  till  they  arrived  within 
a  mile  of  the  town,  whoa  ihey  were  reinforced  Igr 


#' 


-*,.. 


490 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


two  pieces  of  artillery,   under  captain  Leonard,  and 
our  troops  occupying  a  strong  position  behind  a  itone 
wall,  for  some  time  stopped  the   progress  of  the 
enemy  :  being  at  length  compelled  to  retire,  they 
contested  every  inch  of  ground  until  they  reached 
the  south  bank  of  the  Saranac,  where  the  enemy  at- 
tempted to  pursue  them  but  was  repulsed  with  loss. 
The  loss  of  the  British  in  this  skirmish  was  colonel 
Wellington  and  a  lieutenant  of  the  third  Buffs,  and 
two  lieutenants  of  the  fifty-eighth  killed,  and  one  cap-  ^ 
tain  and  one  lieutenant  of  the  fifty-eighth  light  com- 
pany wounded,  together  with  about  one  hundred  pri- 
vates killed  and  wounded ;  while  that  on  our  part  did 
not  exceed  twenty-five.    The  corps  of  riflemen  un- 
der colonel  Appling,  and  detachment  under  captain 
Sproul,  fell  back  from   their  position  at  Dead  Creek 
in  time  to  Join  the  militia,  &c.  just  before  they  en- 
tered the  village,  and  fought  with  their  accustomed 
bravery.     The  British  got  possession  of  that  part  of 
the  village  north  of  the  Saranac  about  eleven  o'clock, 
but  the  incessant  and  welLdirected  fire  of  our  artillery 
and  musketry  from  the  forts  and  opposite  bank  com- 
pelle'd  them  to  retire  before  night  beyond  the  reach 
of  our  guns.     The  enemy  arrived  towards  night  with 
his  heavy  artillery  and  baggage' on  the  lake  road  and 
crossed  the  beach,   where  he  met  v^ith  a  warm  re- 
ception from  our  row-galleys,  and   it  is  believed  suf- 
fered a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.     On  our 
'  sid|,  lieutenant  Duncan,  of  the  navy,  lost  an  arm  by 
A  rocket  and  three  or  four  men  were  killed  by  the 
enemy's  artillery.    The  enemy  encamped  on  the 


l( 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


191 


ridge  west  of  the  town,  his  right  near  the  river,  and 
occupying  an  extent  of  nearly  three  miles,  his  left 
resting  on  the  lake  about  a  mile  north  of  the  village. 
From  the  6th,  until  the  morning  of  the  11th,  an  al- 
most continual  skirmishing  was  kept  up  between  the 
enemy's  pickets  and  our  militia  stationed  on  the  ri- 
ver ;  and  in  the  mean  time  both  armies  were  busily 
engaged— ours  in  strengthening '  the  works  of  the 
forts,  and  that  of  the  enemy  in  erecting  batteries, 
collecting  ladders,  bringing  up  his  heavy  ordnance, 
and  making  other  preparations  for  attacking  the.  fort. 
On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  a  body  of  the  enemy 
under  captain  Noadie,  attempted  to  cross  at  the  up- 
per bridge,  about  seven  miles  west  of  Plattsburgh, 
but  were  met  by  captain  Vaughan's  company  of 
about  twenty-five  men,  and  connpelled  to  retire  with 
the  loss  of  two  killed  and  several  wounded.  On  the 
morning  of  the  Uth,  the  enemy's  flee*  came  round 
the  head  with  a  light  breeze  from  the  north,  and  at- 
tacked ours,  which  lay  at  anchor  in  Cumberland  b^, 
two  miles  from  the  shore,  east  of  the  fort.  The  ac- 
tion was  long  and  bloody,  bat  decisive ;  and  the 
event  such  as  we  believe  it  will  always  be  (except  by 
accident)  when  our  navy  contends  wit?  any  th»ng 
like  an  equal  force.  The  enemy  commence  J  a  simul- 
taneous bombardment  of  our  works  ifrom  seven  bat- 
teries, from  which  several  hundred  shells  and  rockets 
were  discharged,  which  did  us  very  little  injury,  and 
our  artillery  had  nearly  succeeded  in  silencing  all 
before  the  contest  on  the  lake  was  decided.  The 
enemy  attempted  |t  the  same  time  to  throw  his  main 


192 


NAVAL     BATTr.FA 


body  in  rear  of  the  fort,  hy  crossing  the  river  three 
miles  west  of  the  town,  near  the  scitc  of  Pike's  can- 
tonment.    He  succeeded  in  crossing,  after  a  brave 
resistance  by  the  Essex  militia  and  a  few  of  the  Ver- 
mont volunteers,  in  all  about  three  hundred  and  fifty, 
stationed  at  that  place,  who  retired  back  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  river,  continually  pouring  in  upon  them 
an  incessant  fire  from  behind  every  tree,  until  lieuten- 
ant Sumpter  brought  up  a  piece  of  artillery  to  their 
support,  when  the  enemy  commenced  a  precipitate 
retreat     The  Vermont  volunteers,*  who  had  hasten- 
ed to  the   scene   of  action  on   the   first  alarm^  fell 
upon  the  enemy's  left  flank  and' succeeded  in  making 
many  prisoners,  including  three  officers.     Had  the 
British  remained  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  thir- 
ty minutes  longer,  they  must  have  lost  nearly  the 
whole  detachment  that  crossed.     Our  loss  in  this  af- 
fair was  five  killed  and  eight  or  ten  wounded,  some 
mortally.     Inimediately  on  ascertaining  the  loss  of  _ 
^e  fleet,.  Sir  George  Prevost  ordered  .preparations 
to  be  made  for  the  retreat  of  the  army,  and  set  off 
himself  with  a  small  escort,  for  Canada,  a  little  after 
poon.     The  main  body  of  the  enemy,  with  the  ar- 
tillery and  baggage,  were  taken  off  in  the  afternoon 
and  night,  and  the  rear  guard,  consisting  of  the  light 
brigade,  started  at  daybreak,  and  made  a  precipitate 
retreat,  leaving  their  wounded  and  a  large  quantity 
of  provisions,  fixed  ammunition,   shot,   shells  and 
other  public  stores  in  the  different  places  of  deposit 
about  their  camp.     They  were  pursued  some  distance 
by  our  troop,  and  many  prisone%taken ;  but  owing 


<  I 


NAVAL     BATTLES. 


198 


to  the  very  heavy  and  incessant  rain,  we  were  com- 
pelled to  return.  The  enemy  lost,  upon  land,  more 
than  two  thousand  men  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners 
and  deserters  ;  while  our  aggregate  loss  did  not  ex- 
ceed one  hundred  and  fifty.* 

In  September,  1814,  commodore  Macdonough 
succeeded  in  capturing  the  British  fleet,  the  particu- 
lars of  which  will  be  best  related  in  his  letter  to  the 
secretary  of  the  navy,  which  follows. 

United  States  ship  Saratoga,  Plattaburgh  Bay,  September 

19,  1814. 

Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to  give  you  the  particu- 
lars of  the  action  which  took  place  on  the  11th  in- 
stant on  this  lake. 

For  several  days  the  enemy  were  on  their  way,  to 
Piattsburgh  by  land  and  water ;  and  it  being  weU 
understood  that  an  attack  wdtild  be  made  at  the  same 
time  by  their  land  and  naval  forces,  I  determined  to 
await  at  anchor  the  approach  of  the  latter. 

At  eight,  A.  M.  the  look-out  boat  announced  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.  At  nine  he  anchored  in  a 
line  ahead,  at  about  three  hundred  yards  distance 
from  my  line ;  his  ship  opposed  to  the  Saratoga,  his 
brig  to  the  Eagle,  ciptain  Robert  Henley,  his  galley 
(thirteen  in  number)  to  the  schooner,  sloop,  and  a 
division  of  our  galleys.  Our  remaining  galleys  with* 
the  Saratoga  and  Eagle. 

In  this  situation,  the  whole  force  on  both  sides 

became  engaged ;  the  Saratoga  suffered  much'from 

•  Skitchifof  the  War,  p   466—407 
26  ^ 


194 


HAVAL    BATTLES. 


the  heavy  fire  of  the  Confiancc  :  I  could  perceive,  at 
the  same  time,  however,  that  our  fire  was  very  de- 
structive to  her.  The  Ticonderoga,  lieutenant-com- 
mandant Cassin,  gallantly  sustained  her  full  share 
of  the  action.  At  hajf  past  ten  o'clock,  the  Eagle, 
not  being  able  to  bring  her  guns  to  bear,  cut  her  ca- 
ble and  anchored  in  a  more  eligible  positidn,  between 
my  ship  and  the  Ticonderoga,  where  she  very  much 
annoyed  the  enemy,  but  unfortunately  leaving  me 
exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy's  brig.  Our 
guns  on  the  starboard  side,  being  nearly  all  dismount- 
ed, or  not  manageable,  a  stern  anchor  was  let  go, 
the  bower  cable  cut,  and  the  ship  winded  with  a 
fresh  broadside  on  the  enemy's  ship,  which  soon  af- 
ter surrendered.  Our  broadside  was  then  sprung 
to  bear  on  the  brig,  which  surrendered  in  about  fif- 
teen minutes  after. 

The  sloop  that  was  opposed  to  the  Eagle,  had 
,  struck  some  time  before,  and  drifted  down  the  line  ; 
the  sloop  which  was  with  their  galleys  having  struck 
also.  Three  of  their  galleys  are  said  to  be  sunk, 
and  the  others  pulled  off.  Our  galleys  were  about 
obeying  with  alacrity  the  signal  to  follow  them,  when 
all  the  vessels  were  reported  to  me  to  be  in  a  sinking 
state  :  it  then  became  necessary  to  annul  the  signal 
to  the  galleys,  and  order  their  men  to  the  pumps. 

I  could  only  look  at  the  enemy's  galleys  going  oflfin 

a  shattered  condition,  for  there  was  not  a  mast  in  eith- 

.  er  squadron  that  could  stand  to  make  sail  on ;  the 

lower  rigging,  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung  down 

as  though  it  had  been  just  placed  df^t  ihp  mast  heads. 


IfAVAL    BATTLES. 


195 


The  Saratoga  had  fifty  five  round  shot  in  her  hull ; 
the  Confiance  one  hundred  and  five.  The  enemy's 
shot  passed  principally  just  over  our  heads,  as  there  ' 
were  not  twenty  whole  hammocks  in  the  nettings  at 
the  close  of  the  action,  which  lasted,  without  inter- 
mission, two  hours  and  twenty  minutes. 

The  absence  and  sickness  of  lieutenant  Raymond 
Perry,  left  me  without  the  services  of  that  excellent 
officer;  much  ought  fairly  to  be  attributed  to  him 
for  his  great  care  and  attention  in  disciplining  the 
ship's  crew,  as  her  first  lieutenant.  His  place  was 
filled  by  a  gallant  young  officer,  lieutenant  Peter 
Gamble,  who,  I  regret  to  inform  you,  was  killed  • 
earjy  in  the  action.  Acting  lieutenaht  Valette  work- 
ed the  1st  and  2d  divisions  of  guns  with  able  efTeot. 
Sailing-master  Brum's  attention  to  the  springs,  and 
in  the  execution  of  the  order  to  wind  the  ship,  and 
occasionally  at  the  guns,  meets  my  entire  approba- 
tion ;  also  captain  Young,  commanding  the  acting 
marines,  who  took  his  men  to  the  guns.  Mr.  Beale, 
purser,  was  of  great  service  at  the  guns,  and  in  car- 
rying my  orders  throughout  the  ship,  with  Midship- 
man Montgomery.  Master's  mate  Joshua  Justin, 
had  command  of  the  3d  •division ;  his  conduct  during 
the  action,  was  that  of  a  brave  and  correct  officer. 
Midshipmen  Monteath,  Graham,  Williamson,  Piatt, 
Thwing,  and  acting  midshipman  Baldwin,  all  behav- 
ed well,  and  gave  evidence  of  th^ir  making  valuable 
officers. 

The  Saratoga  was  twice  set  on  fire  by  hot  shot 
from  the  enemy'Abhip. 


196 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


I  close,  sir,  this  communication  with  feelings  of 
gratitude  for  the  able  support  I  received  from  every 
officer  and  man  attached  to  the  squadron  which  I 
have  the  honour  to  command. 
-  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

T.  MACDONOUGH. 

Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

The  following  is  a  comparative  view  of  the  force 
and  loss  of  the  British  and  American  fleets : 


-^■^ 


BRITISH. 

Guns.      Men.   Killed.*  Wounded. 


.Large  ship,                       39  300  50  60 

Bug  Linnet,                     16  120  20  30 

Sloop,  formerly  Growler,  1 1  40  6  10 

Sloop,      do.      Eagle,      11  40  8  10 

13  Gun  bcats,t                 18  650 


#: 


K. 


$M.^..r. 


Total, 

AMERICAN. 

Guns.        Men. 


95     1050      84      110 


Saratoga,  ship, 
Eagle,  brig, 
Ticonderoga,  sch'r. 
Preble,  sloop, 
10  Gun  boats,* 

Total, 


26 
20 
17 
7 
16 


210 
120 
110 
30 
350 


86        820 


Killed. 

28 

13 

6 

2 

3 

52 


Wounded 
29 

20  *^^ 
•  6 
0 
3 

68 


•Spv'' 


*  This  is  a  statement  of  what  ^ere  found  on  board  the  British 
vessels.  Many  were  thrown  overboard  during  the  action;  and  U 
was  supposed  the  whole  number  of  killed  and  wounded  amount- 
ed 4o  two  hundred  and  sixty. 

tl^^o'  probably  sunk.  0 


^I'y 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


197 


The  British  officers  killed,  were  commodore  Dow- 
ney, and  three  lieutenants.  The  American  officers 
killed,  were  lieutenants  Gamble  and  Stansbury  ;  the 
latter  -of  whom  was  knocked  overboard  and  not 
found.  Commodore  Macdonough  escaped  without 
injury. 

The  Britbh  officers  taken  were  captain  Pring  and 
six  or  eight  lieutenantSt  The  wounded  were  parol- 
ed and  sent  by  a  flag  to  the  Isle-au-Noix.     — 

The  British  large  ship  proved  to  be  a  very  fine 
vessel  of  her  class,  having  two  gun  decks  in  her  bow 
and  stern,  and  mounting,  among  h^r  guns,  twenty- 
eight  long  twenty-fdur  pounders,  a  battery  which  few 
frigates  of  the  Britif'u  navy  can  boa&t. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  the  interment  of  the 
American  and  British  officers,  who  fell  in  the  memo- 
rable battle  of  the  11th,  took  place  at  Plattsburgh, 
in  a  manner  to  do  honour  to  the  bravery  With  whick 
they  defended  they  respective  flags.  The  coffins  of 
the  American  officers,  covered  with  the  flags  of  their 
vesselsf  were  taken  on  board  a  boat  from  the  com- 
modore's ship  and  followed  by  him  and  his^offi- 
cers,  in  another  boat,  to  the  British  ship,  where  they 
took  on  board  the  deceased  British  officers,  covered 
with  the  flags  of  their  own  vessels,  and  proceeded 
ia  the  shore^  followed  by  their  snryifing  dffiicerit 
Daring  tlie  procession,  ntnute  guns  wet0  flfed  frmtt 
liweommodove's  ship. 

At  the  land  they  were  recei^eil  by  aiir  tfsdort  of 
lisAmtry  andt  aiDillery^  and  Joined  hf  a  Itu^e  mMMt 
of  the  offioenofl  ifae  amiy ;  iittd  wlUte*  titey  pMi^ied^ 


'■^>?^" 


198 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


ed  to  the  public  burying  ground,  minute  guns  were 
also  fired  from  the  fort.  At  the  grave,  a  discharge 
of  musketry  and  artillery  closed  the  scene.  ^ 

'  The  following  amount  of  property  was  said  to  have 
been  taken  from  on  board  the  enemy's  fleet,  at  the 
time  of,  and  subsequent  to  its  capture  : — seventeen 
thousand  weight  of  powder,  exclusive  of  fixed  am- 
munition for  the  ships  ;  between  eighty  and  ninety 
thousand  weight  of  balls,  &c. ;  six  hundred  muskets  ; 
six  hundred  suits  of  sailor's  clothing ;  and  the  winter 
clothing  for  the  whole  of  the  land  army. 

In  the  beginning  of  November,  six  tons  of  eight 
inch  shells  were  taken  out  of  the  lake  at  Chazy  by 
the  Americans,  which  had  been  secreted  by  the  ene- 
my in  his  incursion.  A  transport  sloop  was  also 
raised  at  Isle  la  Mott,  which  had  been  sunk  by  the 
enemy,  loaded  with  ^  naval  stores  and  various  instru- 
ments of  war  ^ 


yfif^i- 


Jij- 


:S!^ 


-^^^ 


ATTACK  ON  BALTIMORE. 


■■  *f!^:;--' 


Om  S.aturday  the  10th  of  September,  information 
was  received  that  the  enemy  was  ascending  the 
Chesapeake,  and  on  Sunday  tnoming  his  ships  were- 
seen  at  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco  river,  (which  com- 
municates with  the  basin  on  which  Baltimore  stands) 
incumber  to  forty  to  fifty.    Some  of  his  vessels  en- 


"■.  ■"'> 


NAVAF.    BATTLES. 


199 


\  .„. 


"k 


iered  the  river,  while  others  proceeded  to  North 
Point,  (  ihe  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,)  fourteen  miles 
from  Bikilimofe,  and  commenced  the  debarkation  of 
the^r  troops  in  the  night,  and  was  finished  early  next 
morning.  The  following  extracts  of  a  letter  from 
general  Smith  to  the  secretary  of  war,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  the  events  which  followed  : 

"  Baltimore,  September  19,  1814 

^^''     '.  '       '  '  ,  •  . 

t  **  I  HAVE  the  honour  of  stating,  that  the  enemy 
landed  between  seven  and  eight  thousand  men  on 
Monday  the  10th  instant,  at  North  Point,  fourteen 
miles  distant  from  this  town.  Anticipating  this  de- 
barkation, general  Strieker  had  been  detached  on 
Sunday  evening  with  a  portion  of  his  brigade  on  the 
North  Point  road.  Major  Randel,  of  the  Baltimore 
county  militia,  having  under  his'  command  a  light 
corps  of  riflemen  and  musketry  taken  from  general 
Stanbury's  brigade  and  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  was 
detached  to  the  mouth  of  Bear  Creek,  with  orders  to 
co-operate  with  general  Strieker,  and  to  check  any 
landing  which  the  enemy  might  attempt  in  that  quar- 
ter. On  Monday,  brigadier  general  SrHcker  took  a 
good  position  at  the  junction  of  the  two  roads  leading 
from  this  place  to  North  Poiat,  having  his  right 
flanked  by  Bear  Creek,  aad  his  left  by  a  marsh. 
He  here  awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  having 
sent  on  an  advance  corps  under  the  command  of 
major  Heath  of  the  5th  regiment.  This  advance 
was  met  by  that  of  the  enemy,  and  after  some  skir- . 
mishing  it  returned  to  the  line,  the  main  body  of  the 


fiOO 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


/ 


enemy  being  at  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  their 
advance.  Between  two  and  three  o'clock,  the  ene- 
my's whole  force  qame  up  and  commenced  battle  by 
some  discharges  of  rockets,  which  were  succeeded  by 
the  cannon  from  both  sides,  and  soon  after  the  action 
became  general  along*  the  line.  General  Strieker 
gallantly  maintained  his  ground  against  a  great  supe- 
riority of  numbers  during  the  space  of  an  hour  and 
twenty  minutes,  when  the  regiment  on  his  left  (the 
fifty-first)  giving  way,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of 
retiring  to  the  ground  in  his  rear,  where  he  had  sfta- 
tioned  one  regiment  as  a  reserve.  He  here  formed 
his  brigade ;  but  the  enemy  not  thinking  it  advisable 
to  pursue,  he,  in  compliance  with  previous  arrange- 
ments, fell  back  and  took  post  on  the  left  of  my  in- 
trenchments,  and  a  half  mile  in  advance  of  them*  ^^^^ 
**  In  this  afiair  the  citizen  soldiers  of  Baltimore, 
with  the  exception  of  the  fifty-firsl  regiment,  have 
maintained  the  reputation  they  so  deservedly  acquir- 
ed at  Bladensburg,  and  have  given  their  country  and 
their  city  an  assurance  of  what  may  be  expected 
fipom  them  when  their  services  are  again  required.  I 
cannot  dismWs  the  subject  without  expressing  the 
lieartfelt  satisfaction  I  experience  in  thus  bearmg 
testimony  to  the  courage  and  good  conduct  of  my 
Cello.W  townsmen.  Aboot  the  time  general  Strieker 
h^  taken  the  ground  just  mentioned,  he  was  joined 
l^  brjigadies  general  Winder,  who  had  been  sUtioned 
QA  ih»  west  side  of  thj»  city,  but  was  now  ordered 
to  tt»Kh  W«t1i  geneial  Douglass'  brigade  of  Virginia 
and  thie^  United  States,  dragoons  under  captnai' 


'^:-rl^" 


I 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


201 


Bird,  and  take  post  on  the  left  of  genersil  Strieker. 
During  these  movements,  the  brigades  of  generals 
Stansburj  and  Foreman,  the  seamen  and  marines 
under  commodore  Rodgers,  the  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers under  colonels  Corbeau  and  Findley,  the  Balti- 
more artillery  under  colonel  Harris,  and  the  marine 
artillery  under  captain  Stiles,  manned  the  trenches  . 
and  the  batteries — all  prepared  to  receive  the  enemy. 
We  remained  in  this  situation  during  the  night. 

'<  On  Tuesday,  the  enbmy  appeared  in  front  of  my 
intrenchments,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles,  on  the 
Philadelphia  road,  from  whence  he  had  a  full  view  of 
our  position.     He  manoeuvred  during  the  morning 
towards  our  left,  as  if  with  the  intention  of  making 
a  circuitous  march,  and  coming  down  on  the  Hart- 
ford and  York  roads.     Generals  Winder  and  Strieker 
were  ordered  to  adapt  their  movements  to  those  of 
the  enemy,  so  as  to  baffle  this  supposed  intention. 
They  executed  this  order  with  great  skill  and  judg-  " 
ment,  by  taking  an  advantageous  position,  stretching  [ 
from  my  left  across  the  country,  when  the  enemy 
was  likely  to  approach  the  quarter  he  seemed  to 
threaten.     This  movement  induced  the   enemy  to 
concentrate  his  forces  (between  one  and  two  o'clock) 
in  my  front,  pushing  his  advance  to  within  a  mile  o 
us,  driving  in  our  videftes,  and  sljuowing  an  intention 
of  attacking  us  that  evening.     I  immediately  drew  ' 
generals  Winder  and  Strieker  nearer  to  the  left  of  ^ 
my  intrenchments,  and  to  the  right  of  the  enemy, 
wi«k  the  inlea^n  of  their  falling  on  his  right  or  rear, 

should  he  attack  Uft ;  or  if  he  deeliaed  k«  of  attack^  ' 
26 


'W^ 


203 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


ing  him  in  the  morning.  To  this  movement  and  to 
the  strength  of  my  defences,  which  the  enemj  had 
the  fairest  opportunity  of  observing,  I  am  induced  to 
attribute  his  retreat,  which  commenced  at  half  past 
one  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning.  In  this  he  was 
so  favoured  by  the  extrame  darkness  and  a  continued 
rain,  that  we  did  not  discover  it  until  daylight.  1 
consented  to  general  Winder's  pursuing  with  the  Vir- 
ginia brigade  and  the  United  States  dragoons;  at 
the  same  time  major  Randal  was  despatched  with  his 
light  corps  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy^s  right,  whilst  the 
whole  of  the  milhia  cavalry  was  put  in  motion  for 
the  same  object.  All  the  troops  were,  however,  so 
worn  out  with  continued  watching,  and  with  being 
under  arms  during  three  days  and  nights,  exposed  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  to  very  inclement  weather, 
that  it  was  found  impracticable  to  do  any  thing  more 
than  pick  up  a  few  stragglers.  The  enemy  com- 
menced his  embarkation  that  evening,  and  completed 
it  the  next  day  at  one  o'clock.  It  would  have  been 
impossible,  even  had  our  troops  been  in  a  condition 
to  act  offensivefly,  to  have  cut  off  any  part  of  the 
enemy's  rear  guard  during  the  embarkation,  as  the 
point  where  it  was  effected  was  defended  from  our 
approach  by  a  line  of  defences  extending  from  Back* 
river  to  Humphrey's  Creek  on  the  Patapsco,  thrown 
up  by  ourselves  previous  to  their  arrival.  -^>^. 

'*  I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  calling  your  atten- 
tion to  the  brave  commander  of  fort  M'Henry*  major 
Armstead,  and  to  the  operations  confined  to  that 
*  Folrt  M'Henry  ii  about  two  nules  firon  the  city  of  BaHimoro. 


NAVAf     BATTLES. 


20S 


quarter.  The  enemy  made  his  approach  by  water 
at  the  same  time  that  his  army  was  advanding  on  the 
land,  and  commenced  a  discharge  of  bombs  aiid  rock- 
ets at  the  fort  as  soon  as  he  got  within  range  of  it. 
The  situation  of  major  Armstead  was  peculiarly 
trying — the  enemy  having  taken  his  position  at  such 
a  distance  as  to  render  offensive  operations  on  the 
part  of  the  fort  entirely  fruitless,  while  their  bombs 
and  rockets  were  every  moment  falling  in  and  about 
it — the  officers  .and  men  being  at  the  same  time  en- 
tirely exposed.  The  vessels,  however,  had  the  temer- 
ity to  approach  somewhat  nearer — they  were  as 
soon  compelled  to  withdraw.  During  the  night, 
whilst  the  enemy  on  land  was  retreating,  and  whilst 
the  bombardment  was  the  most  severe,  two  or  three 
rocket  vessels  and  barges  succeeded  \h  getting  up 
the  Ferry  Branch ;  but  they  were  soon  compelled  to 
retire,  by  the  forts  in  that  quarter,  commanded  by 
lieutenant  Newcomb  of  the  navy,  and  lieutenant 
Webster  of  the  flotilla.  These  forts  -also  destroyed 
one  of'  the  barges,  with  all  on  board.  The  barges 
and  battery  at  the  Lazaretto,  under  the  command  of 
lieutenant  Rutter  of  the  flotilla,  kept  up  a  brisk  and 
it  is  believed  a  successful  fire  during  the  hottest  period 
of  the  bombardment.  The  loss  in  fort  M'Henry  was 
four  killed  and  twenty-four  wounded,  amongst  the 
former  I  have  to  lament  the  fall  of  lieutenants  Cla- 
gett  and  Clamm,  who  were  both  estimable  citizens 
and  useful  officers. 

Of  general  Strieker's  brigade,  the  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  amounts  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 


204 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


among  the  former  this  city  has  to  regret  the  loss 
of  its  repriesentative  in  the  state  legislature,  James 
Lowry  Donaldson,  esquire,  adjutant  of  the  twenty- 
seventh  regiment.  This  gentleman  will  ever  be  re- 
membered by  his  constituents  for  his  zeal  and  talents, 

.  and  by  his  corps  for  his  bravery  and  military  know- 
ledge. 

'.*  I  cannot  conclude  this  report  without  informing 

.„  you  of  the.  great  aid  I  have  derived  from  commodore 
Rodgers.  He  was  ever  present  and  ever  ready  to 
afford  his  useful  counsel,  and  to  render  his  important 
services.  His  presence,  with  that  of  his  gallant' offi- 
cers and  seamen,  gave  confidence  to  every  one. 

**  The  enemy's  loss,  in  his  attempt  on  Baltimore, 
amounts,  as  near  as  we  can  ascertain,  to  between  six  - 
and  seven  hundred  killed,  wounded  and  missing." 


''*« 


BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 


'•?<fe>.? 


-■«5i^' 


'On  the  27th  December  1814,  general  Jackson  ai 
iriVed  at  New  Orleans  with  his  army,  where  he  im- 
mediately began  the  inspection  of  the  different  forts 
and  works  down  the  Mississippi  river.  On  the 
morning  of  the  1st  of  January,  the  enemy  had  ad' 
vanced  within  six  hundred  yards  of  our  breast-works, 
undier  cover  of  night  and  a  heavy  fog,  and  greeted 
three  different  bvtteriea,  moimtiii^  in  all  fifteen  gunii 


ed 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


205 


from  6's  to  32's.  About  eight  o'clock^  when  the  fog 
cleared  off,  they  commenced  a  most  tremendous  fire, 
which  was  amply  returned  by  our  men,  and  a  heavy 
cannonading  was  kept  up,  without  the  least  interval  * 
on  either  side,  except  that  -occasioned  by  the  explo- 
sion  of  two  small  magazines,  owing  to  their  con- 
greve  rockets.  At  four  o'clock,  p.  m.  we  had  dis- 
mounted all  their  guns  but  two.  During  the  night 
the  enemy  retreated  to  their  strong  holds,  about  a 
mile  and  a  quarter  from  our  lines.  Our  loss  was 
eleven  killed  and  twenty-three  wounded :  that  of 
the  enemy  must  have  been  much  more.  A  32  pound- 
er from  a  battery  commanded  by  commodore  Pat- 
terson, killed  lifteen  at  one  shot.  The  Louisiana-this 
day  fired  seven  hundred  shot. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  general  Jackson  received 
at  New  Orleans  and  its  vicinity,  reinforcements  from 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  amounting  to  three  or  four 
thousand,  which,  with  his  former  force,  gave  him  an  ' 
army  of  between  seven  and  eight  thousand,  of  whom 
not  more,  however,  than  one  half  were  armed.  In 
consequence  of  the  great  number  of  men  arriving 
with  their  arms  in  bad  order,  and  of  the  scarcity  of  . 
good  muskets  with  bayonets,  four  companies  of  Unit- 
ed States  troops  gave  up  theirs,  amounting  to  about 
five  hundred,  to  arm  the  men  at  the  camp,  and  armed 
themselves  vvith  fowling  pieces  and  pikes. 

«On  the  6th  of  January  sailing-master  Johnson  of 
the  United  States  navy,  with  a*  launch  and  three 
small  boats,  manned  with  thirty-eight  men,  succeed- 
ed in  burning  a  British   transport  brig  on   Lake 


.5?.^ 


•  > 


206 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


Borgne,  and  in  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners. 
The  brig  was  laden  with  provisions  and  clothing. 
On  the  same  day,  twenty-one  sail  of  British  vessels 
arrived  off  Cat  island,  upon  the  coast  opposite  the 
bay  of  St.  Louis,  with  a  large  reinforcement  of  troops, 
commanded  by  general  Lambert.  On  the  7th,  these 
troops  were  disembarked  at  the  bayou  Bienvenu : 
and  lieutenant-general  sir  Edward  Pakenham,  (broth- 
er-in-law of  lord  Wellington)  assumed  command  of 
the  whole  British  army,  amounting  to  twelve  thou- 
sand men.  ^ 

For  two  or  three  days  previous  to  this,  part  of  the    . 
forces  of  the  enemy  had  been  employed  in  preparing 
scaling  ladders  and  collecting  fascines  (made  of  su- 
gar canes)  for  their  intended  assault  upon  Our  lines  ; 
while  others  were  widening  and  deepening  the  canal 
which  leads  from  the  bayou  Bienvenu  towards  the 
Mississippi,  and  which,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th, 
was  cut  through  to  admit  the  river.     Through  this 
canal  they  floated  or  dragged  twenty-four  of  their 
smaller  beats,  containing  twenty-five  men  each)  and 
thus  transported  about  six  hundred  men  to  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  river.     Some   distance  above  the 
spot  where  they  landed,  two  batteries  had  been  con- 
structed and  placed  under  the  direction  of  commo- 
dore Patterson.     The  enemy's  troops  which  had  thus 
crossed,  were  intended  to  attack  the  commodore's , 
batteries  and  create  a  diversion  on  that  side  of  the 
river,  while  the  main  attack  was  carried  on  on  the^^ 
other  side.     Accordingly  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,' 
they  silently  drew  out  a  large  force  to  storm  ouf 


V  I 


"A 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


207 


lines,  their  columns  advancing  unperccived  in  the  ob- 
scurity of  the.  morning,  to  within  about  half  a  mile 
of  our  camp,  where  they  met  and  drove  in  our  piquet 
guard.  About  day-break  they  advanced  with  great 
vivacity  to  the  entrenchment,  led  gallantly  on  by 
their  officers  ;  when  the  intrepid  Jackson  and  his 
brave  men  opened  a  most  tremendous  and  deadly 
fire  upon  them  from  our  works,  which  ended  in 
a  dreadful  slaughter  and  total  defeat  of  the  enemy. 
General  Jackson  officially  reports  to  the  secretary 
at  war  an  account  of  this  battle  in  the  following 
words : — 

>Camp,  4  miles  below  Orleans,  January  9,  1815 

Sir, — During  the  days  of  the  6th  and  7th,  the 
enemy  had  been  actively  employed  in  making  prepar- 
ations for  ah  attack  on  my  lines.  With  infinite  la- 
bour they  had  succeeded  on  the  night  of  the  6th  in 
getting  their  boats  across  the  lake  to  the  riv'er,  by 
widening  and  deepening  the  canal  on  which  they  had 
effected  their  disembarkation.  It  had  not  been  in 
my  power  to  impede  these  operations  by  a  general 
attack ;  added  to  other  reasopc,  the  nature  of  the 
troops  under  my  command,  mostly  militia,  rendered 
it  too  hazai^ous  to  attempt  extensive  offensive  move- 
ments in  an  open  country,  against  a  numerous  and 
well  disciplined  army.  Although  my  forces,  as  to 
number,  had  been  increased  by  the  arrival  of  the 
Kentucky  division,  my  strength  had  received  very 
little  addition  ;  a  small  portion  only  of  that  detach- 
ment being  provided  with  arnis.     Compelled  thus  to 


^8 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


wait  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  I  took  every  measure 
to  repel  it  when  it  should  be  made,  and  to  defeat  the 
object  he  had  in  view.  General  Morgan  with  the 
Orleans  contingent,  the  Louisiana  militia  and  a  strong 
detachment  of  the  Kentucky  troops,  occupied  an  in- 
trenched camp  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  pro-  . 
tected  by  strong  batteries  on  the  bank,  erected  and 
superintended  by  commodore  Patterson. 

In  my  encampment  every  thing  was  ready  for  ac- 
tion, when,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  ene- 
my after  throwing  a  heavy  shower  of  bombs  and 
congreve  rockets,  advanced  their  columns  on  njy 
right  and  left,  to  storm  my  intrenchments.  I  cannot 
speak  sufficiently  in  praise  of  the  firmness  and  delib- 
eration 'with  which  the  whole  line  received  their  ap- 
proach— more  could  not  have  been  expected  from 
veterans  inured  to  war. — For  an  hour,  the  fire  of  the 
small  arms  was  as  incessant  and  severe  as  can  be 
imagined.  The  artiiloiy,  too,  directed  by  officers 
who  displayed  equal  ski] I  and  courage,  did  great  ex 
ecution.  Yet  the  columns  of  the  enemy  continued  to  ' 
advance  with  ^  firmness  which  reflects  the  greatest 
credit.  Twice  the  column  which  approached  me  on 
my  left,  was  repulsed  by  the  troops  of  general  Car 
roll,  thore  of  general  Coffee,  and  a  division  of  the 
Kentucky  militia,  and  twice  they  fom^^d  ngain  and 
renewed  the  assault.  At  length,  how;  i  cut  to 
pieces,  they  fled  in  confusion  from  Ua^  licid,  leaving  \ 
it  covered  with  their  dead  and  wounded. 

The  loss  which  the  enemy  sustained  on  this  occa 
»h}h ,  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  fifteen  hundred 


f  Naval  battles.  201) 

in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  Upwards  of  three 
hundred  have  alread  ^  been  delivered  over  for  burial ; 
and  my  men  are  still  eni^aged  in  picking  them  up 
within  my  lines  and  <  "  ying  ttu  i;)  to  the  poini  where 
the  enemy  are  to  rr  eive  tin  m. — This  is  mi  addition 
to  the  dead  and  wounded  whom  the  cnnmv  have  been 
enabled  to  carry  from  the  fi.ld,  duriiig,  and  since  the 
action,  and  to  those  who  have  since  died  of  the 
v^ounds  they  received.  We  have  taken  about  five 
h  ;;dred  prisoners,  upwards  of  three  hundred  ol  whom 
are  wounded,  and  a  great  part  of  them  mortally. 
My  loss  has  not  exceeded,  and  I  believe  has  not 
amounted  to  ten  killed  and  as  many  wounded.  The 
entire  destruction  of  the  enemy's  army  was  now  inevi- 
table had  it  not  been  for  an  unfortunate  oc<  urrence 
which  at  this  moment  took  place  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  Simultaneously  with  his  advance  u|)on  my 
lines,  he  had  thrown  over  in  his  boats  a  consid  rable  • 
force  to  the  other  side  of  the  river.  This  having 
landed,  was  hardly  enough  tP  advance  against  the 
works  of  general  Morgan  ;  and,  what  is  strange  and 
difficult  to  account  for,  at  the  very  moment  wher  its 
entire  discomfiture  was  looked  for  with  a  confidence 
approaching  to  certainty, 'the  Kentucky  reinforce- 
ments, in  whom  so  much  reliance  had  been  placed, 
inglorio«isly  fled,  drawing  after  them  by  their  exam- 
ple, the  remainder  of  the  forces  ;  and  thus  yielded  to 
the  enemy  that  most  fortunate  position.  The  bat- 
teries which  had  rendered  me,  for  many  days,  the 
most  import  service,  though  bravely  defended,  were 


27 


VJ" 


210 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


If' 


of  course  now  abandoned ;  not,   hov/ever,   until   the 
guns  had  been  spiked.  < 

This  unfortunate  route  had  totally  changed  the  as- 
pect of  aifairs.  The  enemy  now  occupied  a  position 
from  which  they  might  annoy  us  without  hazard, 
and  by  means  of  which  they  might  have  been  en- 
abled to  defeat,  in  a  great  measure,  the  effects  of 
our  success  on  this  side  the  river.  It  became  there- 
fore an  object  of  the  first  consequence  to  dislodge 
him  as  soon  as  possible.  For  this  object,  all  the 
means  in  my  power,  which  I  could  with  any  safety 
use,  were  immediately  put  in  preparittion.  Perhaps, 
however,  it  was  owing  somewhat  to  another  cause 
that  I  succeeded  even  beyond  my  expectations.  In 
negotiating  the  terms  .of  a  temporary  suspension  of 
hostilities  to  enable  the  enemy  to  bury  their  dead  and 
provide  for  their  wounded,  I  had  required  certaio 
propositions  to  be  acceded  to  as  a  basis ;  among 
which  this  was  one — that  although  hostilities  should 
cease  on  this  side  the  river  until  twelve  o'clock  of 
this  day,  yet  it  was  not  to  be  understood  that  they 
should  cease  on  the  other  side  ;  but  that  no  reinforce- 
ments should  be  sent  across  by  either  army  until  the 
expiration  of  that  day.  His  excellency  Maj.  Gen. 
Lambert  begged  time  to  consider  of  these  proposi- 
tions uutil  ten  o'clock  of  to-day,  and  in  the  meantime 
recrossed  his  troops.  I  need  not  tell  you  with  bow 
much  eagerness  I  immediately  regained  possession 
of  the  position  he  had  thus-hastily  quitted.  . 


:v?t1 


.      .-■%. 


%    i. 


/  ■ 


Vt 


NAVAL     BATTLES. 


211 


In  a  subsequent  I'Hter,  general  Jackson  states  the 
loss  of  the  enemy  to  have  been  much  greater  than 
what  he  at  first  computed.  Upon  information  vf  hich 
was  believed  to  be  correct,  colonel  Haynes  .re- 
ported it  to  have  been  in  total  two  thousand  six 
hundred,  viz.  seven  hundred  killed,  fourteen  hundred 
wounded,  and  five  hundred  prisoners,  including  one 
major,  four  captains,  eleven  lieutenants,  and  one  en- 
sign, who  were  among  the  latter.  The  American 
loss  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi  was  thirteen 
killed,  thirty-nine  wounded,  ^nd  nineteen  missing — 
total  seventy-one.  Of  this  number  six  were  killed 
and  seven  wounded  in  the  action  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river,  and  the  residue  in  a  sortie  after  the  ac- 
tion  and  in  the  action  on  the  western  bank.  Among 
the  British  officers  killed  were  Sir  Edward  Paken- 
ham,  lieutenant-general  and  commander  in  chief, 
(cut  asunder  by  a  cannon  ball)-  major-general  Gibb's, 
colonel  Ray  nor,  majors  Pringle,  Whitaker  and  Wilk- 
inson. Among  their  wounded  was  major-general 
Keane,  iseverely. 

Numerous  accounts  official  as  well  as  unofficial, 
represent  this  battle  to  have  been  the  greatest  ever 
fought  on  the  American  continent.  For  disparity  of 
loss  a  parallel  can  scarcely  be  found  in  ancient  or 
modern  history.  So  determined  were  the  enemy  to 
carry  our  works  that  many  cj^me  up  to  the  very 
muzzles  of  our  guns,  and  some  penetrated  into  our 
lines,  where  they  were  either  killed  or  taken  prison- 
ers. Many  fell  mounting  the  breast-works ;  othere 
were  slain  upon  the  works  ;   and  ^he  ditch  in  front 


•^ 


212 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


was,  in  many  places,  literally  filled  with  dead  and 
wounded.  The  roar  of  artillery  from  our  lines  was 
incessant,  while  an  unihtermitted  rolling  fire  was 
kept  up  from  our  muskets.  The  atmosphere  was 
filled  with  sheets  of  fire  and  volumes  of  smoke.  For 
an  hour  and  a  quarter  the  enemy  obstinately  con 
tinned  the  assault ;  fresh  men  constantly  arriving  to 
fill  up  their  lines  thiimed  by  our  fire.  Their  deter- 
mined perseverance  and  steady  valour,  were  wortliy 
of  a  better  cause  ;  nor  did  their  troops  falter,  until 
almost  all  the  officers  who  had  lead  them  to  the  at- 
tack had  fallen.  At  one  time,  a  body  of  the  enemy 
succeeded  in  gaining  possession  of  a  bastion  on  our 
right  with  three  pieces  of  cannon  in  it ;  but  so  de- 
structive was  our  fire,  that  every  man  who  entered 
was  either  killed  bv  our  riflemen  or  disabled  before 
they  could  spike  the  guns.  Our  men  soon  returned 
to  the  charge  and*  regained  the  bastion.  So  intent 
were  the  enemy  in  getting  over  our  works,  that  *they 
pulled  off  their  shoes  for  the  purpose  of  climbing 
them  ;  but  nearly  all  who  made  the  attempt  were 
either  killed  or  taken  prisoners. 

The  guns  of  commodore  Patterson's  batteries,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  did  great  execution, 
until  the  retreat  of  the  Kentucky  troops,  who  had 
been  posted  near  them.  The  commodore,  finding 
himself  thus  deserted,  was  compelled,  with  a  handful 
of  brave  men,  to  retire,  after  spiking  his  guns.  The 
British  afterwards  burnt  the  gun  carriages,  being 
foiled  in  their  expectations  of  using  the  guns  to  an- 
noy our  troops  on  the  opposite  shore.    . 


,  .  IIAVAL    B4TTL«S. 

JiM^I^Fe^kMli  lli^  the  bdfOi^  of!  tlf*  MNlf  ^iNiif f «e 

v^Wit^liteligdbfoito  a^pnaitNA  JkiilUMNi^v|ili  iiiii- 
'"^tioii  tlit  til^i^  %^»  '^irtlii.t^iii  MmM%i^ dkf^ 

tfi^.,|S)^^^^  ciiiiy^teiit  iif  #iffil|M|f 

}^mS^^^(0^^^^^  Wlti» urere  put  Mlo 

ra  were  ako  i^^Nf^dljI^if^^ 

'«*^iMi'tJFIKI^k;6ii^eiH!^t^ 

;ei 


were  a»8i>  ^pk^^^  ttitaiii  IIMll^^ 
beneTolence,  as  likewise  in  making  clothes  for  our 


214 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


soldien.  The  ftitnre  historian  will  delight  to  con- 
trast the  destrojing  and  brilliant  virtues  of  the  one 
sexj  with  the  preserving  and  not  less  attracting  vir- 
tues of  the  other. 

Immediately  after  their  repulse,  the  enemj  com- 
menced active  operations  for  a  re-embari^ation  of  their 
troops.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
were 'Sent  on  board  their  vessels,  together  with  such 
baggage  and  -munitions  of  war  as  could  l)e  safely 
spared.  During  these  operations,  the  enemy  kept  up 
a  menacing  attitude—frequent  indications  were  given 
of  an  intention  to  renew  the  attack- on  our  lines,  and 
vigorous  works  of  defence  were  thrown  up  in  front 
of  our  camp.  Ute  rear  of  their  army  retired  first, 
while  they  displayed  a  numerous  body  of  men  to  the 
view  of  our  troops,  and  at  night  their  fires  seemed 
rather  to  increase  than  diminish.  They  had  erected 
batteries  to  cover  their  retreat,  in  advantageous  posi- 
tions, from  their  original  encampment,  to  the  bayou 
tl»oi^h  which  they  entered  lake  'Borgne.  The 
camion  placed  on  these  batteries  would  have  raked 
arpursumg  army  in 'every  direction,  and  any  attempt 
to  storm  theih  would  have  been  attended  with  very 
great  slaughter.  Having  made  tiie  necessary  ar- 
rangements, the  whole  British  army  precipitately, 
retreated  on  the  night  of  the  18th  of  January;  an 
account  of  which  was  officiidly  given  by  general 
Jackson  to  the  secretary  of  war. 

The  enemy's  loss  after  decampjonent,  and  on  ship- 
board, (indadikig  about  three  hundred  drowned  while 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


216 


passing  to  and  from  their  shipping,)  amount  to  four 
thousand  eight  hundred.* 

The  American  loss  in  the  several  engagements, 
was  fifty-five  killed,  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
wounded,  and  ninety-three  rnissmg— >total,  three 
hundred  and  thirty-three.  Of  our  forces  actually 
engaged  (including  marines  as  well  as  land  troops) 
the  following  is  a  correct  statement : — In  the  action 
of  the  28th  of  December,  three  thousand  two  hundred 
and  eighty-two ;  1st  of  January,  three  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  sixty-one ;  8th  of  January,  four  thousand 
sil  hundred  and  ninety-eight.  The  enemy's  force 
previous  to  the  j6th  of  January,  was  nine  thousand  ;;<e 
after  that  time  it  was  increased  to  twelve  thousand. 


r^"- 


ORUISEl  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


On  the  18th  February,  1814,  commodore  Rod-* 
gers  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook  in  tlie  United  States 
frigate  President,  from  a  cruise  in  the  course  of  which 
she  passed  most  of  the  West  India  Islands.  After 
being  off  Charleston  two  days  she  was  chased  by  a 
seVenty-^-four,  two  frigates,  and  several  sloops  of  war. 
She  had  captured  and  sunk  three  British  merchant- 
men, and  taken  on  board  thirty  prisoners. 

*  A  number  of  British  deserters  and  prisoners  hav?  stated 
their  loss  to  have  exceeded  five  thousand  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  the  British  officiataecount  of  the  aotion  op  the  8th 
of  January  represents  it  as  very  considerably  iurpasiiiig  tlw , 
statement  given  by  general  Jtcluon.  * 


l\ 


%j^  NAVAL     BATTLES. 

One  occurrence  that  took  place  during  this  cruiae 
is  truly  deserving  of  record.  Several  strange  sail 
were  observed,  and  one  large  ship  to  the  windward^ 
that  proved  to  be  a  seventy  four,  which  came  down 
within  gunshot.  Commodore  Rddgers  had  cteared 
ship  for  action,  and  continued  with  the  maia  top-sail 
|o  the  mast.  After  hauling  her  wind  on  the  larboard 
t^ck,  the  enemy  kept  her  distance,  and  the  Pijesi- 
l^ent  remained  three  hours  with  her  main  topsail  to 
the  mast*  As  the  enemy  evinced  no  disposition  to 
engage,  the  President  gave  her  a  shot  to  windward 
and  hoisted  coloursi— the  seventy-four  then  bore  up, 
and  back,^  main  tq>-sail  when  she  had  approached 
within  gun  shot.  After  mustering  all  hands  aft^ 
commodore  Rodgers  addressed  them  in  a  spirited 
9nd  appropriate  manner,  and  immediately  gave  or- 
ders to  wear  ship  for  the  engagement.  While  back- 
ing to  meet  the  cutter,  and  take  a  pilot. on  board,  the 
commodore  was  surprised  to  observe  the  enemy  stand- 
in§^Qi*to  the  southward  and  eastward*  A  frigate 
avd  gun  brig  appearing  in  sight,  he  hauled  in  mun 
and  fore  tacks  and  made  for  land. 

I^of  the.  space  of  five  hours  the  enemy  hud  i$  at  adl 
tim^ai  iQ^.m^  power  to  bring  the  President  to  actios^ 
andrShf^^  hj  in  readiness  with  n^dn  topHMiil  idwick 
and  eipecting  him. 

Captain  Lloyd  who  commanded  the  sevenly-foufi 
which  proved  to  be  the  Plantagenet,  states  that  his 
crew  was  in  a  state  of  mutii^,  and  gives  this  as  a 
rea9O|il0K  dMUning  aa  eiigagement  intk  tb»  Prenh- 
d^nt. 


'f 


NAVAL  BATTLES 


!l^ 


vii?- 


*9 


S 


\m 


O 

> 
n 


^ 


218 


NAVAL    BATTLES 


i 


V 


I  ■  1 


1% 


B8CA?E  OF   THE   CONSTITUTION    FROM   THE 
TENEDOS  AND  ENDTMION 

On  the  3d  of  April,  1814,  the  United  States  frig- 
ate Constitution,  captain  Stewart,  arrived  at  Mar- 
blehead,  having  beep  chased  in  by  the  British  frig- 
ates Tenedos  and  Endymion,  of  thirty-eight  guns 
each,  which  had  been  in  chase  of  her  from  daylight. 
The  frigates,  or  one  of  them,  it  is  said,  got  within 
two  or  three  miles  of  the  Constitution,  at.  one  time, 
and  to  effect  her  escape  she  was  obliged  to  throw 
overboard  her  provisions,  &c.  and  every  thing  mover 
able,  and  started  all  her  water.  Some  prize  goods 
Were  likewise  thrown  over.  f 

She  immediately  anchored  abore  fort  Sewall,  in  a 
posture  of  defence,  her  exposed  situation  rendering 
her  liable  to  an  attack,  should  she  remain  there  long. 
In  order  to,  the  protection  of  the  frigate  and  the  town, 
a  number  of  heavy  cannon  were  sent  over  ftinn  Sa- 
lem, and  major  general  Hpyey  issued  an  order  for 
the  M^blehead  battalion  oif  artillery  to  bold  itself  in 
readiness  to  act.  Commodore  Bainbridge,  to  whom 
an  express  had  been  sent,  despatched  assistance  from 
the  navy  yard  in  Charlestown,  and  the  company  of 
New  England  Guards  began  tbW  tnarch  ttim  Bos- 
ton, to  afford  such  aid  as  might  be  required  of  them. 
But  towilrds  evening  the  Constitution  weigtied  an- 
chor and  came  round  into  Salem  harbom. 

[Salem  Gazette. 


IIAVAL  DATTLKS. 


I 


n 

..§ 

-a 

•I 

O 


» 

"•« 

o 

te 

H 

n 

H 

» 

0 
o 
«■ 

> 
O 

n 

!« 


o 


HATAL   BATTLB8. 


HORNET  AND  PENGUIN. 


i 


r  r. 


I 

H 


On  tiie  2dd  of  March,  1815,  as  the  Hornet,  com- 
mtnded  by  captain  Biddle,  was  about  to  anchor  off 
the  north  end  of  the  bland  of  Tristan  d'Acuna,  a 
saiJ  was  seen  to  the  southward;  which,  at  forty 
minutes  past  one,  hoisted  English  colours,  and  iired 
a  gun.  The  Hornet  immediately  luffed  to,  hoisted 
an  ensign,  and  gave  the  enemy  a  broadsid?..  A 
quick  and  well  directed' fire  was  kept  up  froa)  the 
Hornet,  the  enemy  gradually,  drifting  nearer,  with 
an  intention,  as  captain  Biddle  supposed,  to  board. 
The  enemy's  bowsprit  came  in  betweien  the  mmn  and 
miszen  rigging  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  Hornet, 
giving  him  an  opportunity  to  boaro,  if  he  had  wish- 
ed, but  no  attempt  was  made.  There  was  a  consid- 
erable swell,  and  as  the  s^  lifted  the  Hornet  ahead, 
the  enemy's  bowsprit  carried  away  her  nlizzen 
shrouds,  stern  daj^ts,  and;^ianket  booms,  and  hung 
upon  her  larboard!^  quarter.  -  ^t  this  moment  an  offi- 
cer called  out  that  they  h!a^  'surrendered.  Captain 
Biddle  directed,  the  marines  to  stop  firing,  kand,;^ 
while  asking  if  they  had  surrendered,  receiVed  a«' 
wound  in  the  neck.  The  enemy  just  then  g6t1;lear 
of  the  H<miet;  and  his' foremast  and  bowsprit  being' 
both  gpie,  and  perceiving  preparations  to  give  him 
anothw  broadside,  he  again  called  out  that!^  had 
surrendered.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  cap- 
tain Biddle  could  restrain  his  crew  from  firing  into 


•f 


NAVAL  BATTLES* 


V 


w 


222 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


him  again,  as  it  was  certain  he  had  fired  into  the 
Hornet  after  having  surrendered.  From  the  firing 
of  the  first  gun  to  the  last  time  the  enemy  cried  out 
that  he  had  surrendered,  was  exactly  twentj-two 
minutes.  The  vessel  proved  to  be  the  British  brig 
Penguin,  of  twenty  guns,  a  remarkably  fine  ves- 
sel of  her  class,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
men ;  twelve  of  them  .supernumeraries  from  the 
Medway,  seventy-four,  received  on  board  in  conse- 
quence of  their  being  ordered  to  cruise  for  the  priviH 
teer  Young  Wasp. 

The  Penguin  had  fourteen  killed  atad  twenty-eight 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  captain  Dicken- 
son, who  fell  at  the  ^scf  of  the  action*  As  she  wae 
completely  riddled,  and  io  crippled  as  to  be  incapa- 
ble of  being  secured,  and  being  at  ft  great  distance 
from  the  United  States,  captain  Biddle  ordered  her 
to  be  scuttled  and  sunk. 

The  Hornet  did  not  receive  a  single  round  shot  in 
her  hull ;  and  though  much  cut  in  her  sails  and  rig- 
ging, was  soon  miade  ready  for  further  service.  Her 
loss  was  one  killed  and  eleven  Wounded. 


I 


ESCAPE  OF  THE  HORNET. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  1815,  the  Hornet  was  chas- 
ed by  a  British  seventy-four,  and  was  compelled  to 
throw  over  her^guns,  shot,  sjpars,  &c.  She  escaped, 
andpi^t  in  at  St.  Salvador.     On  his  arrivid  at  that 


u 


MAVAL    BATTLES. 


port,  captain  Biddle  received  information  of  the 
peace  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 

On  the  return  of  captain  Biddle  to  the  United 
States  a  ilaval  court  of  inquiry  was  held  by  order 
of  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  on  board  the  Hornet,  in 
the  harbour  of  New  York,  on  the  23d  of  August, 
.  1815,  to  investigate  the  causes  of  the  return  of  that 
ship  into  port,  and  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances 
attending  the  loss  of  armament,  stores,  &c.  during 
her  cruise  ;  and  the  following  opinion  has  been  pro- 
nounced by  the  court : 

The  court,  after  mature  deliberation  on  the  testi- 
mony adduced,  are  of  opinion,  that  no  blame  is  im- 
putable to  captain  Biddle,  on  account  of  the  return 
of  the  Hornet  into  port,  with  the  loss  of  her  arma- 
ment, stores,  &c.  and  that  the  greatest  applause  is 
due  to  him  for  his  persevering  gallantry  and  nautical 
skill,  evinced  in  escaping,  und^r  the  most  disadvan- 
tageous circumstances,  after  a  long  and  arduous  chase 
by  a  British  line-of-battle  ship.  .       ,  . 

^«H  SAMUEL  EVANS,  President. 

HENRY  WHEATON,  Special  Judge  Adyocate. 


u 


224 


NAVAL  BATTLES 


PRIVATE  ARMED  VESSELS. 


THE  ATLAS. 

The  privateer  schooner  Atlas,  of  nineteen  guns, 
captain  David  Moffat,  soon  after  the  declaration  of 
war,  sailed  from  Philadelphia.  On  the  third  of 
August,  at  eight  a.  m.  she  discovered  two  sail,  for 
which  she  bore  away.  At  eleven  o'clock,  the  action 
Was  commenced  by  the  Atlas,  with  a  broadside  and 
musketry.  She  continued  engaged  with  both  ships 
till  noon,  when) the  smallest  one  struck  her  colours. 
The  Atlas  then  directed  the  whole  of  her  fire  against' 
the  large  ship ;  when  the  small  one,  thbugh  her 
colours  were  dowti,  renewed  her  'fire  on  the  At- 
laa,  which  had  to  recommence  firing  on  her.  In  a 
few'  minutes  every  man  was  driven  from  her  d^cks. 
Twenty  minutes  after  ttvelve,  the  large  "fehip  struerk. 
Possession  was  ibimediately  taken  of  both  of  them. 
One  proved  to  be  the  ship  Pursuit,  captain  Ohivers, 
of  four  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  sixteen  guns,  and 
thirty-five  men.  The  other  was  the  ship  Planter, 
captain  Frith  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  tdns,  twelve 
guns,  and  fifteen  men.  The  cargoes  of  both  were 
very  valuable  ^      ^'   < 

The  Atlas  had  two  men  killed  and  five  wounded,' 
and  her  rigging  and  sails  much  injured.  She  arriv- 
ed safe  in  port  with  the  Pursuit ;  the  Planter  was 
recaptured  off  the  capes  of  Delaware. 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


-225 


THE  YOUNG  EAGLE, 

Of  New  York,  of  one  gun  and  forty-two  men, 
engaged  the  British  armed  ship  Granada,  of  eleven 
guns  and  thirty  men,  and  another  armed  vessel  in 
company  with  her.  After  an  action  of  an  hour  and 
a  half,  the  Young  Eagle  succeeded  in  capturing  them 
both. 


VA 


re 


\V 


THE  MONTGOMERY, 

Captain  Upton.,  of  Boston,  mounting  twelve 
>gmis,  on  the  6th  of  December,  1812,  off  Surinam 
fell  in  with  the  British  vessel  of  war  Surinam,  df 
twenty  guns.  They  lay  board  and  board  for  half  an 
hour.  Some  of  the  privateer's  men  lashed  the  bob- 
stay  of  the  Surinam  to  the  Montgomery's  main-mast. 
So  spirited  was  the  resistance  on  both  sides,  that 
neither  could  succeed  in  boarding.  One  of  the 
Montgomery's  eig1itie(6ki  pounders  was  repeatedly 
dischaiged  into  the  baws  of  her  antagonist  between 
wind  and  water.  As  sooB  as  the  two  vessels  parted, 
the  Surinam  made  sail  from  the  Montgomery.  Her 
foremost  was  shot  away^  and  she  was  otherwise  so 
much  disabled,  as'to  be  compelled  to  put  into  an 
outport  to  refit,  without  proceeding  to  the  common 
place  of  rendezvous  at  Barbadoes. 
29 


226 


MAVAL    BATTLES. 


THE  DOLPHIN, 

Of  Baltimore,  of  ten  guns  and  sixtj  men,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year^  engaged  two  British  armed 
vessels  at  the  same  time,  the  one  of  sixteen  guns 
and  forty  men,  and  the  other  of  ten  guns  and  twenty- 
five  men.     She  captured  them  both. 


4 


THEROLLA, 


>(,;^ 


Of  Baltimore,  of  nineteen  guns,  captured  seven 
vessels  in  one  cruise,  the  guns  ot  which  amounted 
to  fifty-eight,  and  the  prisoners  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty. 


tk'ii  ■  -nx 


THE   HAZARD, 


aijf 


Of  Charleston,  of  three  guns  and  thirty-eight  meii, 
commanded  by  Placide  le  Chattier,  while^at  anchor 
ofi*  the  island  of  Davie,  discovered  a  man  of  war 
brig  convoying  five  merchantmen.  One  of  these  last, 
having  lost  her  mizzenmast,  could  not  keep  up  with 
the  rest  of  the  convoy.  As  soon  as  they  were  out 
of  sight,  the  Hazard  pursued  her,  to  which,  after 


f 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


227 


k 
id 
id 


m, 
lor 
rar 
ist,  . 
ith 

Dttt 

'ter 


J  V 


some  resistance,  she  struck.     She  proved  to  be  the 
Albion,  of  London,  copper-bottomed,  and  of  three 
hundred  tons  burden,  navigated  by  fifteen  men,  and 
[  mounting  twelve  guns. 

"While  the  Hazard  was  lying  off  Charleston,  in  a 
tog,  her  prize  was  separated  from  her,  and  recaptured 
by  a  British  Cutter,  the  Caledonia,  of  eight  guns 
and  thirty-eight  men.  Three  days  after,  on  the  22d 
of  February,  the  Hazard  discovered  her  prize  in 
company  with  the  above-mentioned  British  cutter. 
The  Hazard  commenced  a  pursuit  of  them  both.  As 
soon  as  the  Hazard  came  within  musket  shot,  she 
commenced  firing  at  the  ship  and  cutter,  which  was 
jretumed  by  them  with  spirit,  and  apparent  deter- 
•  mination.  At  three  o'clock,  the  second  lieutenant, 
(Carpenter,  and  five  men  of  the  Hazard,  were  severely 
wounded.  At  five,  the  cutter  hauled  off  to  repair 
the  damages  she  had  sustained.  At  half  past  five, 
the  Hazard  came  close  to  the  cutter,  the  crew  of 
the  former,  having  determined  to  lose  their  lives 
sooner  than  give  up  so  valuable  a  prize.  At  half 
past  six  the  British  cutter  again  hauled  off,  and  con- 
tinued to  fire  at  a  distance.  Taking  advantage  of 
this,  the  Hazard  bore  down  on  the  prize,  and  after  a 
brisk  fire  caused  her  to  strike  her  colours.  She  was 
then  ordered  to  lie  to.  ^^^ 

The  British  cutter  having  shot  ahead,  Le  Chartier 

instantly  gave  chase,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire.     He 

,  pursued  her  until  eight  o'clock.    The  cutter  then 

I  ceased  firing,  and  hailed,  saying  she  had  struck,  and 

lignified  the  same  by  hoisting  and  lowering;  a  lantern 


228 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


three  times.  The  Hazard  having  then  but  twenty- 
one  men,  including  the  captain  on  board,  it  was  not 
thought  advisable  to  take  possession  of  her.  She 
bore  down  for  the  prize,  of  which  she  took  possession, 
leaving  a  prize-master,  and  six  men  on  bbard  of  her 
so  that  there  only  remained  fourteen  men  on  board 
of  the  Hazard.  Both  the  Hazard  and  her  prize  ar- 
rived safe  at  St.  Mary's.  ' 


THE  COMET, 

Of  Baltimore,  captain  Boyle,  of  twelve  guns  and. 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  being  on  a  cruise,  dis- 
covered,  on  the  14th  of  January,   1813,  four  sail, 
standing  out  of  Pernambuco.     She  lay  by  to  give 
them  an  opportunity  of  getting  off  shore,   with  a 
view  of  then  cutting  them  off.     At  three  p..  m.  they 
were   upon  a  wind  standing   s.  j:.   and  about  six 
leagues  from  land.     The  Comet  bore  up,  and  made 
sail  in  chase.     Atsix,  or^e  of  them  was  discovered 
to  be  a  large  mati  of  war  brig.    All  hands  were   im- 
mediately called  to  quarters  on  board  the  Comet; 
the  guns  were  loaded  with  round  and  grape  shot; 
and  the  ship  cleared  for  action.     At  seven,  being , 
close  to  the  chase,  she  hoisted  hnr  colours,  and  came ' 
close  to  the  man  of  war  brjg,  which  had.  hoisted 
t'ortun^ese  colours.    The  coffloaander  hfiiled*  ^nd 


m 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


229 


flent  an  officer  on  board  the  Comet,  who  informed 
captain  Boyle,  that  the  brig  was  a  Portuguese  na- 
tional vessel,  mounting  twenty  thirty-two  pounders 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  men ;  that  the  three 
others  were  strongly  armed  English  vessels:  and 
that  he  must  not  molest  them.  Captain  Boyle  in- 
formed him  that  he  certainly  should  make  use  of 
every  exertion  to  capture  them.  The  Portuguese 
said  he  was  ordered  to  protect  them,  and  certainly 
should.  ., 

The  English  vesseb  were  ahead  of  the  Comet. 
They  consisted  (^  a  ship  of  fourteen  guns,  and  two 
brigs  of  ten  guns  each.  So  that  including  the  Por- 
tuguese vessel,  the  Comet  had  a  force  of  fifty-four 
guns  to  oppose.  Captain  Boyle  immediately  made 
sail  for  them  ;  came  up  with  the  ship,  hailed  her, . 
and  ordered  the  cs^ain  to  have  the  mainsail  back- 
ed. He  gave  little  or  no  answer.  The  Comet  hav- 
ing shot  ahead,  captain  Boyle  informed  him,  that 
he  should  be  along  in  a  few  minutes,  when  if  he  did 
not  obey  his  orders,  he  would  pour  a  broadside  into 
the  ship.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Comet  tacked,  the 
Portuguese  sloop  of  war  being  close  after  her,  and 
ran  along  side .  of  the  ship,  one  of  the  brigs  being 
close  to  her.  The  Comet  opened  a  broadside  on 
them  both.  It  was  now  about  half  past  eight  p.  m. 
All  the  vessels  were  carrying  a  press  of  sail.  The 
Comet,  from  her  superior  sailing,  was  frequently 
obliged  to  tack.  From  this  she  would  hav^  profit- 
ed very  much,  had  not  the  Portuguese  sloop  of  war 
been  so  close.    The  latter  now  opened  a  heavy 


m 


230 


IfAYAL   BATTLES. 


fire  on  the  Comet,  with  round  and  grape  shot, 
which  she  returned.  The  Comet  had  now  the  whole 
force  of  the  four  vessels  to  contend  with.  She, 
however,  kept  as  closely  as  possible  to  the  English 
vessels.  They  frequently  separated,  to  give  the 
sloop  of  war  an  opportunity  of  firing  into  the  Comet. 
The  latter  as  frequently  poured  whole  broadsides 
into  them ;  at  times  also  into  the  sloop  of  war. 
'  About  eleven  p.  h.  the  ship  surrendered— she  was 
cut  to  pieces,  and  rendered  unmanageable.  Soon 
after  the  brig  Bowes  struck — she  also  was  much  in- 
jured. A  boat  was  sent  to  take  possession  of  her;  as 
it  passed  the  sloop  of  war,  a  broadside  was  fired 
by  ner,  which  nearly  sunk  it,  and  obliged  it  to  return. 
The  Comet  then  commenced  a  brisk  fire  at  the 
sloop  of  war,  which  sheered  off  to  some  distance. 
After  following  her  a  short  distiince,  she  obliged  the 
third  English  vessel  to  strike.  The  latter  was  very 
much  cut  to  pieces.  The  Comet  now  again  proceed- 
ed to  take  possession  of  the  Bowes,  when  she  spoke 
the  ship  thftt  had  first  surrendered^ — ^her  captain  be- 
ing ordered  to  follow,  informed  taptain  Boyle  that 
his  ship  was  in  a  sinking  condition,  having  many 
shot  holes  between  wind  and  water,  and  every  rope 
on  board  of  her  being  cut  away.  At  l^alf  past  one, 
A.  M.  the  Bowes  was  taken  possession  of  and  man- 
ned. The  sloop  of  war  then  fired  a  broadside  into 
the  prize,  and  passed  her.'  The  moon  was  now 
down,  and  it  became  quite  dark  and  sqjially.  This 
caused  the  Comet  to  separate  from  the  other  vessels, 
excepting  the  sloop  of  war,  with  which  broadsides 


MAVAL    BATTLES. 


231 


were  frequently  exchanged.  At  two,  she  stood  to 
the  south.  Captain  Boyle  now  thought  it  most  pru- 
dent to  take  care  of  one  of  the  prizes  until  daylight, 
the  other  two  being  out  of  sight.  At  daybreak,  the 
sloop  of  war,  and  the  two  other  prizes,  a  ship 
and  brig,  were  discovered.  The  Comet  immediately 
hove  about,  and  stood  for  them.  The  sloop  tacked, 
and  made  signals  for  her  convoy  to  make  for  the 
first  port  Captain  Boyle,  knowing  the  situation  of 
the  ship  and  brig,  determined  not  to  take  possession 
of  them,  but  to  watch  their  manoeuvres.  Great  ex- 
ertions appeared  to  b.e  made  to  keep  them  from 
^sinking.  •    ■  ^kw^I?-? 

Captain  Boyle  was  afterwards  informed  that  the 
sloop  of  war,  was  much  injured-Hshe  had  five  men 
killed,  and  a  number  wounded.  The  ship's  mast 
searcely  lasted  to  carry  her  into  Pernambuco.  Her 
cargo  was  nearly  all  damaged.  It  was  with  diffi- 
culty the  brig  was  kept  from  sinking  before  i^e 
reached  Pernambuco  harbour. 

After  capturing  the  Aberdeen,  of  eight  guns,  two 
vessels' of  ten  guns  each,  in  sight  of  a  sloop  of  war, 
and  a  schooner,  captain  Boyle  returned  to  the  Unit- 
ed States.  He  passed  the  blockading  squadron  in 
the  Chesapeake,  and  arrived  safe  at  Baltimore. 


■iiMr-if^ 


SS2 


NATAL  BATTLES. 


THE  GiBNERAL  ARMSTRONG, 

A  SCHOONER  of  eighteen  guns,  commanded  by 
captain  Champlin,  was  cruising  off  Surinam,  on  the 
11th  March,  1813.  At  seven  a.  m.  she  discovered 
a  sail,  which  at  half  past  eight,  fired  three  guns,  and 
hoisted  English  colours.  About  nine,  the  Armstrong 
fired  a  gun,  and  hoisted  American  colours.  At  half 
after  nine,  the  British  vessel  tacked,  and  stood  as 
near  the  Armstrong  as  the  wmd  would  permit,  keep- 
ing up  a  brisk  fire  from  her  main  deck  guns.  At 
half  past  ten,  the  Armstrong  bore  down,  intending  tqt 
pour  her  starboard  broadside  into  her,  then  wear  ship, 
discharge  the  larboard  tirokdside,  aiid  then  boara* 
This  was  done,  except  the  boarding.  The  English^ 
vessel  was  now  discovered  to  be  a  frigate  pierced  for 
tWenty-fbur  guns.  She  kept  tip  a  constant  fire*  60 
the  Armstrong,  which  lay^r  ten  niniutes  like  a  log. 
The  fore-top^sail  and  ih!zzen-gaff  halyards  of  the 
frigate  were  shot  away.  Thils  btbught  ^bT^'tfeT' 
colours.  The  crew  of  the  Armstrong,  thinking  she 
had  struck,  ceased  firing.  But  they  were  soon  again 
seen  flying,  and  the  action  was  renewed.  The  fri- 
gate lay  for  a  few  minutes  ap|)at'ently  unmanageable. 
She  soon,  however,  recovered,  and  opene<|  a  heavy 
fire  from  her  starboard  Broadside  and  main-top ;  ap^ 
parently  with  the  intehtion  of  sinking  the  Armstroiig. 
The  latter,,  lay  for  the  space  of  forty-five  nnnutes 
within  pistol  shot  of  the  frigate.     Captadn  Chaunplin 


\  \ 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


299 


was  standing  by  the  centre  gun,  in  the  act  of  firing 
his  pistoli  when  he  was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball 
from  the  main*tO|i  of  the  ftigate.  The  Armstrong 
luffed  to  windward,  and  forereached  the  frigate. 

The  Armstrong  had  six  men  killed,  and  sixteen 
wounded,  and  was  very  much  injured  in  her  rigging, 
masts,  and  hull— she,  however,  succeeded  in  escap* 
ing  from  the  frigate. 


THE  TOVNG  TEAZER, 

Captain  Dobson,  of  New  York,  was  chased  into 
Hidifax  by  the  Sir  John  Sherbroke,  a  vessel  of  supe* 
rior  force.  When  witlun  the  light  house  she  hoisted 
Eaglisl^  colours  over  the  American,  and  waa  chased 
nearly:  up  to  the  fbrts^  when  the  Sir,  John  Sherbroke 
supposing  her  to  be  a  prize,  hove  about,  and  put  to 
sea.  As  soon  as.  the.  latter  was  out  of  sights,  the 
Young  Teazer  hauled  doWi|  her  English  colours, 
and  ^cted  her  escape. . 


\  V 


!S 


>  1. 1  ti; 


:-<^' 


THBDEOATCnii 


.  Or  ChairlestOD,  mountiBg  seven  gi^is,  with  a  crew 

ofime  hundred tand  three  m£n,  and,  commanded  by 

dfitaia  Dit«iD^  being  oaa<  cruise  in  the  month  of 

Augnsti  .diseoveied  a  ship  and.  schoon^.    She  imme- 
90 


■;ih' 


2S4 


NATAL   BATTLES. 


rliatelj  Stood  towards  them  to  reconnoitre.    At  half 
past  twelve,  the  Decatur  was  abreast  of  the  schooner, 
which  hoisted  English  colours.    At  one  the  Decatur 
wore  round ;  and  half  an  hour  after  the  schooner  fired 
a  shot  without  effect.    The  captain  of  the  Decatur 
immediately  gave  orders  to  prepare  for  action.     At 
two  o'clock  the  schooner  fired  another  shot,  which 
passed  over  the  Decatur.    At  a  quarter  past  two,  the 
latter  fired  her  large  gun,  and  hoisted  American 
colours  at  the  peak :  two  more  discharges  were  made 
from  the  same  piece,  which  were  answered  bj  two 
guns  from  the  British  schooner.    The  two  vessels 
were  now  within  half  gun  shot  distance.     Captahi 
Diron,  observing  that  the  schooner  was  prepared  to 
bear  away,  hauled  upon  the  larboard  tack,  in  order 
to  present  the  bow  of  his  vessel  to  his  antagonist*^ 
Soon  afterwards  the  latter  fired  her  whole  broadsidet-' 
which  only  slightly  damaged  the  Decatur's  rigging* 
This  was  returned  from  the  eighteen  pounder  of  the 
Decatur.    Her  captain  at  the  same  time,  ordered 
every  one  of  the  crew  to  his  post,  in  order  to  carry 
the  British  vessel  by  boarding,  as  soon  as  the  neces-' 
sary  preparations  for  the  purpose  should  be  made. 
It  was  now  three  quarters  of  an  hour  past  two,  an^ 
the  vessels  were  within  pistol  shot  of  e^^h  other.    A 
severe  fire  df  musketry  commenced  from  the  Deca^ 
tur.    The   British  schooner  bore  away  tp  prevent' 
being  boarded ;  and  fired  a  broadside  into  the  Deca- 
tur, which  killed  two  of  her  men,  and  injured  her^ 
rigging  and  sails.'   The  Decatur  closely  followed  her 
antagonist  in  her  manoeuvres)  and  again  endeavoored^ 


/ 


NATAL   BATTLES. 


2S6 


to  board,  which  the  schooner  once  more  avoided,  and 
fired  another  broadside.  A  third  attempt  was  made 
by  the  captain  of  the  Decatur  to  board.  The  jib- 
boom  of  the  Decatur  was  run  into  the  mainsail  of 
the  schooner,  and  the  latter  not  being  able  to  disen- 
gage herself  dropped  along  side.  During  this  ma- 
noeuvre the  fire  from  the  cannon  and  musketry  on 
both  sides  was  extremely  severe  and  destructive. 
While  the  two  vessels  lay  in  this  position  captain 
Diron  ordered  his  whole  crew,  armed  with  pistols, 
sabres,  &c.  to  board,  which  was  performed  with  the 
greatest  promptness.  The  resistance  of  the  English 
was  desperate.  Fire  arms  soon  became  useless,  and 
the  contest' was-  carried  on  with  the  cutlass.  The 
captain  and  principal  officers  of  the  British  vessel 
ijeing  killed,  and  her  deck  covered  with  dead  and 
wounded,  her  colours  were  hauled  down  by  the  crew 
of  the  Decatur,  when  the  two  vessels  were  separat^^ 
ed,  having  their  rigging  and  sails  cut  to  pieces.  i^ 
>>  The  English  vessel  was  his  Britannick  majesty's 
schooner  Dominica,,  of  fifteen  guns,  with  a  crew  of 
eighty-eight  men.  The  Decatur  had  four  men  killed 
and  sixteen  wounded  ;  the  Dominica  thirteen  killed 
and  forty-seven  wounded.  Among  the  killed  of  the' 
Dominica  was  her  brave  commander,  who,  as  long 
as  he  lived,  refused  to  surrender  his  vessel,  jnd  de- 
clared his.deteraiuiation  not  to  survive  her  loss. 

The  king's  packet  Princess  Charlotte,  remained  an 
inactive  spectator  of  this  bloody  contest^  which  lasted 
an  hour.  As  soon  as  the  vessels  were  disengaged, 
she  tacked  about  and  stood  to  the  southward.    She 


•■i?|||v.- 


IfAYAL    BATTLES. 


Iind  sailed  from  St.  Thomas,  under  codtoj  of  the 
Dominica.  The  Decatur  and  her  prize  arrived  safe 
in  port. 


. 


THE  SARATOOily 

Of  four  guns  and  one  hundred  and  sixteen  meh^ 
belonging  to  New  York,  while  cruising  off  Surinam 
river,  in  the  month  of  September,  discovered  the 
British  packet,  brig  Morgiana,  of  eighteen  guns, 
witb  a  crew  of  about  fifty  men,  commanded  by 
James  Cunningham.  Captain  Aderton,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Saratoga,  immediately  gave  chase : 
when  within  musket  shot,  the  Morgiana  hoisted 
English  colours,  and  the  action  commenced :  part 
of  the  time  the  vessels  were  within  pistol  shot :  the 
remainder,  they  were  close  along  side  of  each  other. 
After  an  action  of  an  hour  and  a  quarter  the  Sarato- 
ga succeeded  in  capturing  the  British  vessel  by 
boarding.  The  action  was  extremely  severe.  Both 
vessels  were  almost  reduced  to  wrecks.  The  Sara- 
toga had  almost  all  her  stays,  shroudtfi,  &c.  cut  away. 
In  her  mainsail  there  were  upwards  of  a  hundred 
shot  holes.  A  number  of  shot  also  struck  her  mastk^ 
spars,  and  bull.  The  crew  of  the  Morgiana  fought 
with  desperation.  She  had  two  men  killed  and 
eigkt  wounded.  The  Saratoga  ha^  two  men  kHle^ 
aai  five  wounded.    Both  aBnived  safe  in  port 


NATAL    BATTLES. 


trt 


Vv<t*  t. 


THE  GENERAL  ARMSTRONG. 


The  following  letter  from  John  D.  Dabney,  Esq. 
American  consul  at  Fayal,  (Portugal,)  gives  the  par- 
ticulars of  a  flagrant  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  that 
port,  in  an  attack  upon  the  privateer  General  Arm- 
strong, by  the  enemy.  The  Armstrong  belonged  to 
New  York,  and  mounted  eight  long  nines  and  a 
twenty-four  pounder. 

(1 '    '  Fayal,  October  6,  1814.  ii . 

Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to  state  to  you  that  a 
most  outrageous  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  this 
port,  in  utter  contempt  of  the  laws  of  civilized  na- 
tions, has  recently  been  committed  here,  by  the  com- 
manders of  his  Britannick  majesty's  ships  Flantaga- 
oet,  Rota  and  Cariiation,  against  the  American  pri- 
vate arsied  brig  General  Armstrong,  Samuel  C. 
Reid,  commander;  but  I  have  great  satisfaction  in 
being  able  to  add,  that  this  occurrence  terminated  in 
one  of  the  most  brSliant  actions  on  the  part  of  captain 
Reid,  his  brave  officers  and  crew,  that  can  be  found 
clB  naval  record. 

The  American  brig  came  to  mchor  in  this  port  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  SGth  of  September,  and  at  sun- 
set of  the  same  day,  the  above  natned  ships  sudden- 
ly appe^ed  in  these  roads ;  it  being  nearly  calm  in 
the  port,  it  was  rather  doubtful  if  the  J)rivateer  could 
escape  if  she  got  nnder  way,  and  relying  on  the  jus- 
tice and  good  fdith  of  the  British  captains,  it  wai 


238 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


^ 


deemed  most'  prudent  to  remain  at  anchor.  A  little 
after- dusk  captain  Reid  seeing  some  suspicious  move- 
ments on  the  part  of  the  British,  began  to  warp  his 
vessel  close  under  the  guns  of  the  castle,  and  while 
doing  so,  he  was  at  about  eight  o'clock,  f.  m.  ap« 
preached  by  four  boats  from  the  ships  filled  with 
armed  men.  After  hailing  them  repeatedly  and 
warning  them  to  keep  off,  he  ordered  his  men  to  fire 
upon  them  and  killed  and  wounded  several  men. 
The  boats  returned  the  fire  and  killed  one  man  and 
wounded  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  privateer,  and  re- 
turned to  their  ships ;  and,  as  it  was  now  light  moon- 
light, it  was  plainly  perceived  from  the  brig  as  well 
as  from  the  shore,  that  a  formidable  attack  was  pre^ 
meditating.  Soon  after  midnight,  twelve  or  more 
large  boats,  crowded  with  men  from  the  ships,  and 
armed  with  carronades,  swivels  and  blunderbipsses, 
small  arms,  &c.  attacked  the  brig ;  a  severe  cpntest 
ensued  which  lasted  about  forty  minutes  and' ended 
in  the  total  defeat  and  partial  destruction  of  the 
boats,  with  a  most  unparalleled  carnage  on  the  part 
of  the  British.  It  is  estimated  by  good  judges  that 
near  four  hundred  men  were  in  the  boats  when  the 
attach  commenced,  and  no  doubt  exists  in  the  minds 
of  the  numerous  spectators  of  the  scene,  that  more 
than  one  half  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded ;  sev- 
eral boats  were  destroyed ;  two  of  them  remained 
along  side  of  the  brig  literally  loaded  with  their 
own  dead.  From  these  two  boats  only  seventeen 
reached  the  shore  alive  ;  most  of  them  were  severe- 
ly i^ounded.    The  whole  of  the  following  day  the 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


239 


more 
sev- 
ained 
their 
nteen 
iBvere- 
ytbe 


British  were  occupied  in  burying  their  dead  ;  among 
them  were  two  lieutenants  and  one  midshipman  of 
the  Rota — the  nrst  lieutenant  of  the  Plantaganet, 
it  is  said,  cannot  survive  his  wounds,  and  many  of 
the  seamen  who  reached  their  ships  were  mortally 
wounded  and  have  been  dying  daily.  The  British, 
mortified  at  this  signal  and  unexpected  defeat,''endea- 
voured  to  conceal  the  extent  of  the  loss ;  they  admit 
however  that  they  lost  in  killed  and  who  have  died 
since  the  engagement,  upwards  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  of  the  flower  of  their  officers  and  men.  The 
captain  of  the  Rota  told  me  he*  lost  seventy  men 
from  his  ship.  Two  days  after  this  affair  took  place 
the  British  sloops  of  war  Thais  aiid  Calypso  came 
into  port,  when  captain  Lloyd  immediately  took 
them  into  requisition  to  carry  home  the  wounded  offi- 
cers and  seamen.  They  have  sailed  for  England, 
one  on  the  2d  and  the  other  on  the  4th  instant, each 
carried  twenty-five  badly  wounded.  Those  who 
were  slighty  wounded,  to  the  number,  as  I  am  in- 
formed, of  about  thirty,  remained  on  board  of  their 
respective  ships,  and  sailed  last  evening  for  Jamaica. 
Strict  orders  were  giver,  that  the  sloops  of  war  should 
take  no  letters  whatever  to  England,  and  those  or- 
ders were  rigidly  adhered  to. 

In  face  of  the  testimony  of  all  Fayal,  and  a  num- 
ber of  respectable  strangers,  who  happened  to  be  in 
this  place  at  the 'moment,  the  British  commander  en- 
deavours to  throw  the  odium  of  this  transaction  on 
the  American  captain,  Reid,  alleging  that  he  sent  the 
boats  merely  to  reconnoitre  the  brig,  and  without  any 


if'inwmw  I  i  , 


240 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


\i 


hostile  intentioiis ;  the  pilots  of  the  port  did  inform 
them  of  the  privateer  the  moment  they  entered  the 
port.  To  reconnoitre  an  enemy's  vessel  in  a  friendly 
port,  at  night,  with  four  boats,  carrying,  by  the  best 
accounts,  one  h^uudred  and  twenty  men,  is  certainly 
a  strange  proceeding !  The  fact  is,  they  expected  as 
the  brig  was  warping  in,  that  the  Americans  would 
not  be  prepared  to  receive  them,  and  they  had  hopes 
of  carrying  her  by  a  "  coup  de  main."  If  any  thing 
could  add  to  the  baseness  of  this  transaction  on  the 
part  of  the  British  commander,it  is  the  want  of  can- 
dour openly  and  boldly  to  avow  the  facts.  In  vain 
can  he  expect  by  such  subterfuge  to  shield  himself 
from  the  indignation  of  the  world,  and  the  merited 
resentment  of  his  own  government  and  nation  for 
thus  trampling  on  the  sovereignty  of  their  most  an^ 
cient  and  faithful  ally,  and  for'  the  waqton  sacrifice 
of  British  lives. 

On  the  part  of  the  Americans  the  loss  was  com- 
paratively nothing ;  two  killed  and  seven  wounded : 
of  the  slain  we  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  the  sec- 
ond  lieutenant,  Mr.  Alexander  O.  Williams,  of  New 
York,  a  brave  and  meritorious  officer. 

Among  the  wounded  are  Messrs.  Worth  and  John- 
son, first  and  third  lieutenants ;  captain  Reid  was 
thus  deprived,  early  in  the  action,  of  the  services  pi 
all  his  lieutenants ;  but  his  cool  and  intrepid  conduct 
secured  him  the  victory. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  ult.  one  of  the  British 
ships  placed  herself  near  the  shore  and  coiamenced 
a  heavy  cannonade  on  the  privateer.    Fiidnig  ftl^ 


a| 
s^ 


NAV^L    BATTLES. 


241 


tber  resistance  unavailing,  captain  Raid,  ordered  ber 
to  be  abandoned  after  being  partially  destroyed,  to 
prevent  her  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who 
soon  after  sent  their  boats  and  set  her  on  fire. 

At  pine  o'clock  in  the  evening  (soon  after  the  first 
attack)  I  applied  to  the  governour,  requesting  his 
excellency  to  protect  the  privateer,  either  by  force 
or  by  such  remonstrance  to  the  commander  of  th(* 
squadron  as  would  cause  him  to  desist  from  any  fur- 
th^er  attempt.  The  governour  indignant  at  what  had 
passed,  but  feeling  himself  totally  unable  with  the 
slender  means  he  possessed,  to  resist  such  a  force, 
took  the  part  of  remonstrating,  which  he  did  in  for- 
sible  but  respectful  terms.  His  letter  to  captain 
Lloyd  had  no  other  effect  than  to  produce  a  menacing 
reply  insulting  in  the  highest  degree.  Nothing  can 
exceed,  the  ihdignation  of  the  publick  authorities,  as 
well  as  of  all  ranks  and  descriptions  of  persons  here, 
at  this  unprovoked  enormity.  Such  was  the  rage  of 
the  British  to  destroy  this  vessel,  that  no  regard  was 
paid  to  the  safety  of  the  town ;  some  of  the  inhabi- 
tants were  wounded,  and  a  number  of  houses  wero 
much  damaged.  The  strongest  representations  on 
on  this  subject  are  prepared  by  the  governour  for  his 
court. 

Since  this  affair  the  commander,  captain  Lloyd, 

threatened  to  send  on  shore  an  armed  force,  and 

arrest  the  privateer's  crew ;  saying  there  were  many 

Englishmen  among  them;   and  our  poor  fellows, 

afraid  of  his  vengeance,  have  fled  to  the  mountains 

several  timed,  and  have  been  harrassed  extremely* 
'   31 


"""^-mmm 


2MI 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


1 


At  length,  captain  Lloyd,  fearful  of  losing  more  men 
if  he  put  his  threats  in  execution,  adopted  this  strata- 
gem :  he  addressed  an  official  letter  to  the  governour, 
I  ting  that  in  the  American  crew  were  two  men  who 
deserted  from  his  squadron  in  America,  and  as  they 
were  guilty  of  high  treason,  he  recfuired  them  to  be 
found  and  given  up.  .  Accordingly  a  force  was  sent 
into  the  country,  and  the  American  seamen  were  ar- 
rested and  brought  to  town,  and  as  they  could  not 
designate  the  said  pretended  deserters,  all  the  sea- 
men here  passed  an  examination  of  the  British  offi- 
cers, but  no  such  persons  were  to  be  found  among 
them.  I  was  requested  by  the  governour  and  British 
consul  to  attend  this  humiliating  examination,  as  was 
also  (iaptain  Reid  ;  but  we  declined  to  sanction  by 
our  presence  any  such  proceedings. 

Captain  Reid  has- protested  against  the  British 
commanders  of  the  squadron  for  the  unwarrantable 
destruction  of  his  vessel  in  a  neutral  and  friendly 
port,  as  also  against  the  government  of  Portugal  for 
thfeir  inability  to  protect  him.  ^  k  ^L 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir, 
your  most  obedient  servant. 

JOHNB.  DABNEY. 

Tq  the  Secretarjr  of  Siaie  of  the  United  States,  Washingtoo 


FATE  OF  CAPTAIN  PORTER'S  SETl'LEMENT  AT 

NOOAHEETAH. 


for 


sir, 


r. 


Letter  from  captain  John  M.  Gamble  of  the  marines,  detailing 
the  occarrences  which  took  place  at  Mooaheevah  after  the  . 
departure  of  captain  Porter,  and  hie  subsequent  capture  by 
the  Cherub.    New  ¥ork^  August,  1815.  < 

Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to,  inform  you,  that  o^ 
the  12(h  of  December,  1^13,  the  day  on  which  the 
Essex  frigate,  and  £sse^  junior,  took  their  depar- 
ture from  Nooaheevab,  I  was  left  in  port  Anna 
Maria  bay,  with  eighteen  men  under  my  command, 
and  six  prisoners  of  war,  in  charge  of  the  establish- 
ment on  shore,  together  with  the  prize  ships  Green- 
wich, Sei;ingapatam,  and  Sir  Andrew  Hammond, 
with  orders  from  captain  Porter  to  remain  five  and  a 
half  calendar  months  at  that  place— at  the  expiration 
of  which  time,  should  he, not  return,  or  send  me 
further  instructions  how  to  act;  I  was,  if  possible, 
to  man  two  of  the  ships,  and  after  taking  every  arti- 
clie  of  value  out  of  the  other,  and  burning  that  ship, 
to'  repair  to  the  port  of  Valparaiso-— where,  in  the 
event  of  my  not  finding  the  frigate  or  additional  or- 
ders, I  was  authorized  to  dispose  of  one  of  the  ships 
to  the  best  advantage,  taking  on  board  the  other 
all  the  men  under  my  charge,  as  well  as  the  prize- 
crews  of  the  different  ships  then  in  that  port,  and 
proceed  to  the  United  States. 

After  receiving  those  instructions,  my  first  object 
was,  agreeably  to  the  wish  of  captain  Porter,  to  fill 
the  ship  New  Zealander  with  oil  from  the  other  ships ; 


244 


Ki-l-' 


NAVAL    ItATTLES. 


and  on  the  28tb  of  the  same  month  she  took  her  de- 
parture for  the  United '  States,  with  a  cargo  of  nine- 
teen hundred  and  fifty  barrels,  and  well  found  in 
every  respect  for  so  long  a  voyage. 

■**  *t'"  regret,  sir,  I  have  to  inform  you,  the  frigate 
ha'.  .iOt  got  clear  of  the  Marquesas,  before  we  £s- 
covered  in  the  natives  a  hostile  disposition  towards 
us,  and  in  a  few  days  they  became  so  insolent,  that 
t  found  it  absolutely  necessary,  not  only  for  the  se- 
curity of  th^  ships  and  property  on  shore,  but  for 
our  personal  safety,  to  land  my  men  and  regain  by 
force  of  arms  the  many  articles  they  had  in  the 
most  daring  manner  stolen  from  the  encampment ; 
and  what  was  of  still  greater  importance,  to  prevent, 
if  possible,  their  putting  threats  into  execution,  which 
might  have  been  attended  with  the  most  serious  con- 
sequences on  our  part,  from  duty  requiring  my  men 
to  be  so  much  separated. 

I,  however,  had  the  satisfaction  tq  accomplish  my 
wish  without  firing  a  musket,  and  from  that  time 
lived  in  perfect  amity  with  them,  until  the  7th  May 
foilowitig,  when  my  distressed  situation  placed  me  in 
their  power. 

Before  mentioning  the  lamentable  events  of  that 
day,  and  the  two  succecfding  ones,  I  shall  give  you  a 
brief  account  of  a  few  preceding  occurrences  whicli 
were  sources  of  great  uneasiness  to  me. 

I'hie  first  was  th6  death  of  lohn  IVitter  (a  faithful 
old  marine)  who  was  unfortunately  drowned  in  the 
surf  on  the  aftehibon  of  the  28th  of  February,  and 
the  desertion  of  four  of  my  men;  tlie  one  Isaac 


N  I 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


245 


tha^ 
ou  a 

la  the 
Isaac 


Coffin  (black  man)  had  deserted  from  the  Essex  the 
day  before  she  sailed  out  of  the  bay,  and  was  then  a 
prisoner  for  attempting  the  second  time  to  make  his 
escape  from  the  ships.  They  took  the  advantage  of 
a  dark  night,  and  left  the  bay  in  a  whale-boat,  unob- 
served by  any  person,  all,  excepting  the  prisoner, 
having  the  watch  on  deck.  They  took  with  them 
several  muskets,  a  supply  of  ammunition,  and  many 
things  of  but  little  value.  My  attempt .  to  pursue 
them  was  prevented,  by  their  destroying,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  only  remaining  boat  at  that  time  sea 
worthy. 

On  the  12th  April  began  to  rig  the  ships  Ser- 
ingapatam,  aP'1  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  which,  as  I 
calculated,  f  ..ployed  the  men  until  tbe  1st  of  May. 
All  hands  were  then  engaged  in  getting  tbe  f  emain* 
der  of  the  property  from  the  Greenwich  to  the  Serin!* 
gapatam,  as  I  began  to  despair  of  the  firigate  rejoin- 
ing me  at  that  place.  _^ 

The  work  went  on  well,  and  the  men  were  obe« 
dient  to  my  orders,  though  I  discovered  an  evidcai 
change  in  their  countenances,  which  led  me  to  sup- 
pose there  was  something  wroag  in  agitatioa,  and 
mider  that  impression  had  all  the  musketsv  and  am- 
munilion,  and  small  arms  of  every  description)  taken 
to  the  Greenwich  (the  ship  I  lived  on  board  (rf')fiom 
the  other  shtps^  as  a  necessary  precaution  against  a 
surprise  from  my  own  men. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  while  an  board  the  Seringii- 
potam  on  duty  which  required  my  being  presenrv  I 
was  suddenly  and  violently  attacked  by  the  men 


«^ 


246 


NAVAL    BATTLE8< 


employed  in  that  ship.  After  struggling  a  short 
time,  and  receiving  many  bruises,  1  was  thrown  down 
on  the  deck,  and  my  hands  and '  legs  immediately 
tied.  They  then  threw  me  on  the  second  deck, 
thence  dragged  me  into  the  cabin,  and  confined  me 
to  the  run,  where  in  a  few  minutes  midshipman  Fel- 
tus,  and  acting  midshipman  Clapp  were  thrown  in, 
tied  in  the  same  manner  as  myself :  the  scuttle  was 
then  nailed  down  and  a  jentinel  placed  over  it 

After  spiking  all  the  guns  of  the  Greenwich,  and 
of  the  fort,  and  those  of  the  S:r  Andrew  Hammond 
that  were  loaded,  plundering  the  ships  of  every  thing 
valuable,— committing  many  wanton  depredations  on 
shore,  taking  ftU  the  arms  and  ammunition  from  the 
Greenwich ;  sending  for  Robert  White,  the  man  who 
was  sent  out  of  the  Essex  for  mutinous  conduct,  and 
bending  the  necessary  sails,  they  stood  out  of  the 
bay,  with  a  light  wind  off  the  land.  /. 

My  fellow  prisoners,  and  shortly  after  myself, 
wer^  then  taken  out  df  the  run,  and  placed  in  the'ca- 
bin^  under  the  immediate  charge  of  several  sentinels. 
"'  Shortly  after  getting  clear  of  the  bay,  one  of  the 
sentinels,  though  he  had  been  repeatedly  cautioned 
against  putting  hid  finger  on  the  trigger,  fired  a  pis- 
tol, the  contents  of  which  passed  though  my  heel  a 
little  below  the  ankle  bone.  \  m^ 

I  had  not  received  the  wound  a  moment  before  the 
men  on  deck  pointed  their  muskets  down  the  sky- 
light, and  were  in  'the  act  of  firing,  when  the  sen- 
tinel prevented  them  by  saying  the  pistol  was  acci- 
dentally dischar^^ei; 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


Ui 


At  nine  o^clock,  the  night  dark,  and  the  wind 
blowing  fresh,  after  receiving  by  request  from  the 
mutineers  a  barrel  of  powder  and  three  old  muskets, 
I  was  put  in  a  leaky  boat,  where  I  found  my  unfor- 
tunate companions. 

In  that  situation,  after  rowing  at  least  six  miles^ 
and  every  person  exhausted  from  the  great  exertion 
made  to  preveift  the  boat  from  sinking,  we  reached 
the  Greenwich,  where  I  found  my  few  remaining 
men  anxiously  looking  out  for  me,  and  seriously 
alarmed  at  the  conduct  of  the  lavages.  They  had 
already  begun  to  plunder  the  encampment,  and  were 
informed  by  Wilson  (a  man  who  bad  lived  among 
them  for  several  years,  and  who,  as  I  afterwards 
leanit,  was  not  only  instrumental  to  the  mutiny,  but 
had  in  my  absence  plundered  the  Sir  Andrew  Ham- 
mond) of  our  defenceless  situation. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  comply  with  that  part  of 
my  instructions  directing  me  to  remain  in  the  bay 
until  the  27tb  May*^— I  thought  it  most  advisable  to 
repair  to  the  port  of  Valparaiso ;  and  with  that  view 
every  soul,  assisted  by  George  Ross,  and  William 
Brudewell,  (traders  living  on  the  island  for  the  pur- 
pose rof  collecting  sandal  wood,)  exerted  themselves 
in  making  the  necessary  preparations  to  depart. 

My  0r§t  object  was  to  put  the  Sir  Andrew  HanF 
raond  in  a  situai^n  tfiat  we  might  get  under  way  at 
any  moment.  That  donet  all  hands  were  engaged 
in  getting  the  few  articles  of  value  from  shore,  and 
endeavouring  to  recover  the  stolen  property  from  the 
Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  when  the  savages  made  tor 


248 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


I 


unprovoked  and  wanton  attack  upon  us,  in  which  I 
have,  with  the  deepest  regret,  to  inform  you,  midship- 
man William  Feltus,  John  Thomas,  Thomas  Gibbs, 
and  William  Brudewell  were  massacred,  and  Peter 
Caddington  (marine)  dangerously  wounded ;  but  he 
^made  his  escape  together  with  William  Worth,  by 
swimming  some  distance,  when  they  were  taken  out 
of  the  water  by  midshipmap  Clapp  and  the  only 
three  men  left.  Our  situation  at  that  moment  was 
most  desperate — the  savages  put  off  in  every  direction 
with  a  view  to  intercept  the  boat,  and  board  the 
ship,  but  were  driven  back  by  my  firing  the  few  guns 
we  had  just  before  loaded  with  grape  and  cannister 
shot.  Before  the  boat  returned,  and  the  guns  were 
reloaded,  they  made  the  second  attempt,  an^  after- 
wards repeated  attempts,  first  to  board  the  Sir  Andrew 
Hammond,  and  then  the  Greenwich— but  were  re- 
pulsed by  our  keeping  up  a  constant  firing.  During 
this  time  several  hundred  were  employed  in  pulling 
down  the  houses,  and  plundering  the  encampment, 
while  others  were  in  the  fort,  endeavouring  (assisted 
by  Wilson  who  had  received  several  casks  of  powder 
from  the.  mutineers)  to  get  the  spikes  out  of  the  guns. 
As  soon  as  William  Worth  had  recovered  a  little 
strength,  after  being  so  long  in  the  water,  I  sent  thfs 
boat  to  the  Greenwich,  for  John  Fitlenger  (a  sic^ 
man)  and  some  tilings  tj^at  were  ittdaspensably  necea- 
sary,  and  with  orders  to  burn  that  ship,  and  retuni 
with  all  possible  despatch,  as  our  ammunition  was 
nearly  all  expended,  and  we  ^d  no  oth^Br  means  of 
keeping  tko  savages  one  momeiit  out  of  the  abip.— ^ 


haval  battles. 


249 


We  then  bent  the  jib  and  spanker,  cut  the  moorings, 
and  luckily  had  a  light  breeze  that  carried  us  clear 
of  the  baj,  with  six  cartridges  only  remaining. 

It  was  then  we  found  our  situation  most  distressing. 
In  attempting  to  run  the  boat  up,  it  broke  in  two 
parts  and  we  were  compelled  to  cut  away  from 
the  bows  our  only  anchor,  not  being  able  tocai 
it.  We  mustered  altogether  eight  souls— out  of 
which  there  was  one  cripple  confined  to  his  bed,  one 
man  dangerously  wounded,  one  sick,  one  convales- 
cent, a  feeble  old  man  just  recovering  from  the  scur- 
vy, and  myself  unable  to  lend  any  further  assistance, 
the  exertions  of  the  day  having  so  greatly  inflamed 
my  wound  as  to  produce  a  violent  fever,— leaving 
midshipman  Clapp,  fmdtwo  men  only  capable  of  do- 
ing duty.  In  that  state,  destitute  of  charts  and  of 
every  means  of  getting  to  windward,  I  saw  but  one 
alternative,  to  icun  the  trade  winds  down,  and  if  pos- 
sible to  make  the  Sandwich  islands,  in  hopes  of  either 
falling  in  with  some  of  the  Cauton  ships,  (that  being 
their  principal  place  of  rendezvous)  or  of  obtaining 
some  assistance"  from  Tamaahmaah,  the  king  of  the 
Windward  Islands. 


m 


,  .  No  time  was  lost  in  bending  the  topsails,  and  on 
tne  10th  of  May  w^  took  our  departure  from  Ro- 
berts island.  On  the  26th  of  the  same  month  made 
Owhyhee,  and  on  the  SOth  after  suffering  much, 
came  to  an  anchor  in  Whytetee  bay,  at  the  island  of 
Whoblioo,  where  t  found  captain  Winship,  several 
officers  of  ships,  and  a  number  of  men,  from  whom 


>  %i^:.     -**■ . 


32 


260 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


Hi  ; 


(particularly  captain  Winahip)  1  received  every  assist- 
aoce  their  situation  could  afford  me. 

The  .latives,  though  at  first  surprised  at  our  de- 
plorable condition,  and  inquisitive  to  know  the  cause 
of  it,  which  I  did  not  think  prudent  to  inform  them, 
supplied  the  ship  with  fresh  meat,  fruits  and  vegeta- 
bles, partly  on  condition  that  1  would  take  the  chief 
men  of  the  island,  and  some  others  with  their  pro- 
perty up  to  the  Windward  Islands,  (where  I  found  it 
necessary  to  go,)  after  shipping  some  men,  in  order 
to  procure  a  supply  ,of  salt  provisions  from  the  king. 
From  thence  it  was  my  intention  to  have  proceeded 
to  Valparaiso  in  compliance  with  my  instructiona 
from  captain  Porter,-— but  I  was  unfortunately  cap-  ' 
tured  on  the  passage  by  the  English  ship  Cherub  of 
twenty  guns.  I  was  somewhat  surprised  to  hear 
captaip  Tucker  say  (when  I  pointed  out  -a  valuable 
canoe,  and  many  other  articles  which  I  assured  him 
was  the  property  of  the  natives,  and  that  I  was  mere- 
ly conveying  them,  and  it,  from  the  one  island  to  the 
other,  the  weather  being  to  boisterous  at  that  time 
for  them  to  make  the  passage  in  their '  canoes,)  that 
every  thing  found  in  a  prize-ship  belonged  .to  the 
captors.  -  u'  .  ,4 

So  that  I  had  the  mortification  to  see  the  people 
from  whom  I  had  received  so  much  kindness,  sent  on 
shore,  deprived  of  all  they  had  been  collecting  foi 
twelve  months  past,  and  were  about  to  present  to 
their  king  as-  a  tribute  imposed  upon  cbem. 

The  Cherub  then  proceeded  to  Atooi,  where  after 
capturing  the  ship  Charon,  and  making  many  fruit  • 


NAVAL    BAlTLkS. 


261 


lople 

It  OD 

foi 

a  to 

ifter 


leM  attempt  to  get  the  cargo  of  that  ship,  and  se- 
veral others  that  had  heen  deposited  on  the  island, 
under  the  iirniediate  protection  of  the  king  of  the 
Leeward  Islands,  she  took  her  departure  on  tiie 
16th  of  Jul  J  from  that  place,  and  on  the  28th  Novem- 
ber following,  arrived  at  Rio  de  Janeiro  wii:  her 
prizes,  touching  on  her  passage  for  refreshments  at 
Otaheite  and  Valparaiso.  During  her  stay  at  the 
latter  place,  the  frigates  Briton  and  Ta(^us  arrived 
from  the  Marquesas,  where  they  had  hee>-\  in  search 
of  the  ships  left  under  my  charge. 

Onthe  16th  of  December  the  prisoners  w^r<.  <,ent 
on  shore,  having  received  the  most  r?orous  treat- 
ment from  captain  Tucker,  during  theii  ioiig  confine- 
ment in  his  ship,  and  the  greater  part  of  them,  like 
the  natives,  left  destitute  of  evety  thing,  save  the 
clothes  on  their  backs.  The  men  belonging  to  the 
Essex  had  but  little  to  lose,  but  those  I  shipped 
at  Waahoo  had  received  in  part,  money  and  goods 
for  one,  two,  and  some  of  them  three  years  services 
ip  t^  Canton  ships. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  by  t^:^  ««dvice  of  a  physician 
who  attended  me,  I  took, my  departure  from  Rio 
de  Janeiro,  in  a  Swedish  ship  bound  to  Havre  de 
Grace  leaving  behind  actiug  midshipman  Benjamin 
Clapp,  and  five  men,  haying  lost  one  soon  after  my 
arrival  at  that  place  with  the  small  pox. 

No  opportunity  had  previously  offered  by  which  1 
could  possibly  get  froih  thence,  the  English  admiral 
on  that  station,  being  determined  to  prevent  by  every 


i>?i^^n^^r<rrff^ffar^«as.ii»iir 


262 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


means  in  his  power  American  prisoners  from  returning 
to  their  own  country. 

Or  the  10th  instant,  in  latitude  forty-seven  degrees 
north,  and  in  longitude  eighteen  degrees  west  I  took 
passage  on  board  the  ship  Oliver  Ellsworth  (captain 
Roberts)  fifteen  days  from  Havre  de  Grace,  <boond  to 
New  York. 

I  arrived  here  last  evening,  and  have  the  honour  to 
wait  either  the  orders  of  the  navy  department,  or  of 
the  commandant  of  the  marine  corps. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  &c. 

V.  JOHN  M.  GAMBLE. 


To  the  hononrable  the  Seoretarj  ofthe  Nevj,  WaduQgtoM 


'  » ' 


t-i^ 


ALGERINE  WAR. 


,\> 


iMMEDiiiTELT  after  the  ratification  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain,  in  February  1815,  Congress,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  hostile  conduct  of  the  regency  of  Al- 
giers, declared  war  against  that  power.  A  squadron 
was  immediately  fitted  out,  imder  the  command  of 
commodore  Decatur,  consisting  of  the  Guerriere,  Con- 
stellation, and  Maqedonian  frigates,  the  Ontario  and 
Epervier  sloops  of  war,  and  the  schooners  Spark, 
Spitfire,  Torch,  and  Flambeau.  Another  squadron, 
under  commodore  Bainbridge,  was  to  follow  this  ar- 
mament, on  the  arrivsd  of  which,  it  was  understood, 
commodore  Decatur  would  return  to  the  United 
States  in  a  single  vessel,  leaving  the  command  of 
the  whole  combined  force  to  commodore  Bainbridge. 

The  force  under  commodore  Decatur  rendezvoused 
at  New  York,  from  which  port  they  sailed  the  20th 
day  of  May,  1815,  and  arrived  in  the  bay  of  Gib- 
raltar in  twenty-five  days,  after  having  previously 
communicated  with  Cadiz  and  Tangier.  In  the 
passage,  the  Spitfire,  Torch,  Firefly,  and  Ontario, 
separated  at  different  times  from  the  squadron  in 
gales,. bjut  all  joined  again  at  Gibraltar,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Firefly,  which  sprung  her  masts,  and 
put  back  to  New  York  to  refit.  Having  learned  at 
Gibraltar  that  thf  Algerine  squadron,  which  had  been 
out  into  the  Atlantic,  had  undoubtedly  passed  up 
the  straits,  and  that  information  of  the  arrival  of  the 
American  force  hkd  been  sent  to  Algiers  by  persons 


254 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


in  Gibraltar,  commodore  Decatur  detcmined  to  pro- 
ceed without  delay,  up  the  Mediterranean,  in  the 
hope-of  intercepting  the  enemy  before  he  could  re- 
turn to  Algiers,  or  gain  a  neutral  port. 

The  17th  of  June,  off  Cape  de  Gatt,  he  fell  in 
with  and  captured  the  Algerine  frigate  Mazouda,  in 
a  running  fight  of  twenty-five  minutes.  After  two 
broadsides  the  Algerines  ran  below.  The  Guerriere . 
had  four  men  wounded  by  musketry — the  Algerines 
about  thirty  killed,  according  to  the  statement  of  the 
prisoners,  who  amounted  to  four  hundred  and  six. 
In  this  affair  the  famous  Algerine  admiral,  or  Rais, 
Hammida,  who  had  long  been  the  terror  of  this  sea, 
was  cut  in  two  by  a  cannon  shot. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  off  cape  Palos,  the  squadron 
fell  in  with  and  captured  an  Algerine  brig  of  twenty- 
two  guns.  The  brig  w^as  chased  close  to  the  shore, 
where  she  was  followed  by  the  Epervier,  Spark, 
Torch,  and  Spitfire,  to  whom  she  surrendered,  after 
losing  twenty-three  men.  No  Americans  were  either 
killed  or  wounded.  The  captured  brig,  with  most 
of  the  prisoners  on  board,  was  sent  into  Carthagena, 
where  she  has  since  been  claimed  by  the  Spanish 
government  under  the  plea  of  a  breach  of  neutrality. 
As  th's  affair  will  probably  become  a  subject  of  ne- 
gotiation between  the  United  States  and  Spain,  we 
decline  entering  into  further  particulars.  \ 

From  cape  Palos,  the  American  squadron  proceed- 
ed to  Algiers,  where  it  arrived  the  28th  of  June. 
Aware  that  a  despatch^boat  had  been  sent  from  Gib- 
raltar, to  inform  the  regency  of  his  arrival,  and  having 
also  learned  that  several  Tartans  had  gone  in  search 


NAVAL   BATTLES. 


265 


of  the  Algerines  to  communicate  the  news,  commo- 
dore Decatur  concluded  that  their  fleet  was  by  this 
time  safe  in  some  neutral  port.  He  therefore  thought 
it  a  favourable  time  to  take  advantage  of  the  terror 
which  his  sudden  and  unwelcome  arrival  had  excited, 
to  despatch  a  letter  from  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  tlie  dey,  in  order  to  aflbrd  him  a  fair  opportu- 
nity to  open  a  negotiatioiK  The  captain  of  the  port 
was  immediately  despatched  to  the  Guerriere,  on  the 
receipt  of  this  letter,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Norderling 
the  Swedish  consul ;  and  commodore  Decatur,  who, 
with  Mr.  Shaler,  had  been  empowered  to  negotiate 
a  treaty,  proposed  the  basis,  on  which  alone  he  could 
conseiit  to~enter  on  the  affair  of  an  adjustment.  This 
was  the  absolute  and  unqualified  relinquishment  of 
any  demand  of  tribute  on  the  part  of  the  regency,  on 
any  pretence  whatever.  To  this  he  demurred.  He 
was  then  asked  if  he  knew  what  had  become  of  the 
Algerine  squadron,  and  replied — **  By  this  time  it  is 
safe  in  some  neutral  port."  "  Not  the  whole  of  it," 
was  the  reply.  He  was  then  told  of  the  capture  of 
the  frigate,  of  the  brig,  and  of  the  death  of  Hammida. 
He  shook  his  head,  and  smiled  with  a  look  of  incredu- 
lity, supposing  it  a  mere  attempt  to  operate  on  his  fears, 
and  thus  induce  an  acceptance  of  the  proposed  basis. 
But  when  the  lieutenant  of  Hammida  was  called  in, 
and  the  minister  learned  the  truth  of  these  particulars, 
he  became  completely  unnerved,  and  agreed  to  nego- 
tiate on  the  proposed  basis.  He  premised,  however, 
that  he  was  not  authorized  to  conclude  a  treaty,  but 
requested  the  American  commissioners  to  state  the 
conditions  they  had  to  prooose.     This  was  done,  and 


266 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


the  captain  of  the  port  then  requested  a  cessation  of 
hostilities,  and  that  the  negotiation  should  be  conduct- 
ed on  shore,  the  minister  of  marine  having  pledged 
himself  for  th^ir  security  while  there,  and  tiieir  safe 
return  to  the  ships  whenever  they  pleased.  Neither 
of  these  prof^os'Uons  were  accepted,  and  the  captain 
was  expressly  given  to  understand,  that  not  only 
must  the  negotiation  be  carried  on  in  the  Guerriere, 
lut  that  hostilities  would  still  be  prosecuted  against 
all  vessels  belonging  to  Algiers,  until  the  treaty  was 
signed  by  the  dey.  >     f  ?? 

The  captain  of  the  port  and  Mr.  Norderling  then 
went  on  shore,  but  the  next  day  again  came  on  board, 
with  the  information  that  they  were  commissicftied 
by  the  dey,  to  treat  on  the  basis  for  winch  the  com- 
missioners'of  the  United  States  had  stipulated*  A 
treaty  was  then  produced,  which  the  commissioners 
declared  could  n9t  be  varied  in  any  material  article, 
and  that  consequently,  discussion  was'not  only  useless, 
l^ut  dangerous  on  their  part ;  for  if  in  the  interim  the 
Algerine  squadron  were  to  appear,  it  would  most  as- 
suredly be  attacked.  On  examining  the  treaty  pro- 
posed, the  captain  of  the  port  was  extremely  anxious 
to  ^et  the  article  stipulating  for  the  restoration  of 
the  property  taken  by  the  Algerines  during  the  war 
dispensed  with,  earnestly  representing  that,  it  had 
been  distributed  into  many  hands,  and' that  as  it  wais 
not  the  present  dey  who  declared  war,  it  was  unjust 
that  h|^^  should  answer  for  all  its  consequences* .  .The 
article  was,  however,  adhered  to  by  the  Americati  com^ 
missionerS|,and  after  Various  attempts  to  gain  a  truce, 
as  well  as  to  gain  time,  it  was  at  length  settled 


f-^-  ^'ihii 


NATAL   BATTLES. 


257 


that  all  hostilities  should  instantly  cease,  when  a 
boat  was  seen  coming  off  with  a  whi:e  ilag,  the 
Swedish  consul  pledging  at  the  same  time  his  honour 
that  it  should  not  be  hoisted  until  the  dej  had  sign- 
ed the  treaty,  and  the  prisoners  were  safe  in  the 
boat.  The  captain  and  Mr.  Norderjing  then  went 
on  shore,  and  returned  within  three  hours  ;  with  the 
treaty  signed,  together  with  all  the  prisoners,  al- 
though the  distance  was  more  than  five  miles.  The 
prindpal  articles  in  this  treaty  were,  that  no  tribute 
under  any  pretext  or  in  any  form  whatever,  should 
ever  be  required  by  Algiers  from  the  United  States 
of  America— that  all  Americans  in  slavery  should  be 
given  up  Without  ransom — that  compensation  should 
be  made  for  American  vessels  captured,  or  pro- 
perty seized  or  detainer!  at  Algiers— 4hat  the  persons 
and  property  of  American  citizens  found  on  board  an 
enemy's  vessels  should  be  sacred'^^that  vessels  of 
either  par^  putting  into  port  should  be  supplied 
with  provisions  at  market  price,  and,  if  necessary 
to  be  repaired,  should  land  their  cargoes  without 
paying  duty — ^that  if  a  vessel  belonging  to  either 
party  should  be  cast  on  shore,  ^he  should  not  be  given 
up  to  plunder-^-or  if  atmcked  by  an  enemy  withui  can- 
non sliot  of  a  fort,  should  be  [ffotected,  and  no  ene 
my  be  permitted  to  follow  her  when  she  went  to  sea 
withhi  twenty^four  hours.  In  general,  the  rights 
of  Americans  on  the  ocean  and  land,  were  fully  pro- 
vided for  in  every  instance,  and' it  was  particularly 
stipulated  that  all  citizens  of  the  United  States  taken 

in  watr^  lAioiild  be  treated  at  prisoners  of  war  are 

63  .  . 


258 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


jk    '"\ -s. 


treated  by  other  nations,  and  not  as  slaves,  but  held 
subject  to  an  exchange  without  ransom.  After  con- 
cluding this  treaty,  so  highly  honourrible  and  advan- 
tageous to  this  country,  the  comniis5foa<  r.f  gxva  up 
the  captured  frigate  and  biig,'to  their  i  irniev  mw^jk; 
To  this  they  were  influeviced  by  a  cor  ;ideration  of 
the  great  expanse  U  wo^ild  requir<B  to  put  them  in  a 
condition  to  be  sent  to  the  United  Statf -^ — the  im- 
possibility of  disposI:^g  of  them  in  the  Mediterraiiv;sn 
and  hy  th<i  pressing  instances  of  the  dey  .  .  ^^seif, 
w  »ti'  ejirnestly  represented  that  thio  would  be  the 
best  method  of  satisfying  his  people  with  the  treaty 
just  a>;4 eluded,  and  consequently  the  surest  guaran- 
tee  for  its  observance  on  his  part.  The  policy  of 
the  measure  we  think  sufficiently  o)>yious,  when  it  is 
considered  that  the  dey  would  most  likely,  in  case 
of  their  refusal,  have  fallen  a  victim  to  the  indigna- 
tion of  the  people,  and  that,  in  all  probability,  his 
successor  would  have  found  his  safety  only  in  disown- 
ing the  peace  which  had  been  made  by  his  predeces- 
sor. There  being,  as  we  before  stated,  some  dispute 
with  the  Spanish  authorities  with  regard  to  the  le- 
gality of  the  capture  of  the  Algerine  brig,  it  was  stip- 
ulated on  the  part  of  the  American  commissioners, 
in  order  to  induce  the  Spaniards  to  give  hei  ,  that 
the  Spanish  consul  and  a  Spanish  mercliant,  then 
prisoners  in  Algiers,  should  be  released,  and  permit- 
ted to  return  to  Spain  if  they  pleased.  According  to 
the  last  advices  the  brig  was  still  detained  by  the 
Spanish  government,  and  the  ultimate  dispfvsal  of 
this  vessel  will  probably  be  .settled  by  an  amicable 
negotiation. 


NAVAL    BATtLES. 


269 


le- 

stip- 

ners, 

that 

then 

irmit- 

ngto 

ly  the 

lalof 


tf^ 


ir 


Commodore  Decatur  despatched  captain  Lewis  in 
the  Epervier,  bearing  the  treaty  to  the  United  States, 
and  leaving  Mr.  Shaler  at  Algiers,  as  consul-general 
to  the  Barbary  states,  proceeded  with  the  rest  of 
the  squadron  to  Tunis,  with  the  exception  of  two 
schooners  under  captain  Gamble,  sent  to  convoy  the 
Algerine  vessels  home  from  Carthagena.  He  was 
prompted  to  this  visit,  by  having  been  informed  that 
a  misunderstanding  existed  between  our  consul  and 
the  bashaw  of  Tunis,  into  the  nature  of  which  he 
considered  himself  bound  in  duty  to  inquire.  Here 
he  was  officially  informed  by  the  consul  of  a  violation 
of  the  treaty  subsisting  between  the  United  States 
and  the  bashaw,  first,  in  permitting  two  prizes  of  an 
American  privateer  to  be  taken  out  of  the  harbour 
'by  a  British  cruiser,  and  secondly,  in  permitting  a 
company  ofmerchants,  subjects  of  Tunis,  to  take 
the  property  cf  an  American  citizen  at  their  own 
price,  and  much  below  its  real  value. 

The  truth  of  these  allegations  being  thus  officially 
verified,  commodore  Decatur  addressed  a  letter  to 
the  prime  minister  of  Tunis,  demanding  satisfaction 
for  these  outrages  exercised  or  permitted  by  the 
bashaw,  and  a  full  restoration  of  the  property  thjus 
given  up  or  sacrificed.  The  bashaw,  through  the 
mediiim  of  his  prime  minister,  acknowledged  the 
truth  of  the  facts,  as  well  as  the  justice  of  the  de- 
mands ;  but  begged  twelve  months  to  pay  the  money. 
This  was  refused ;  and  on  receiving  assurances  that 
it  would  be  paid  forthwith,  the  commodore  went  on 
shore,  where  he  received  the  visits  of  .the  different 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  , 

consvls.  The  Drother  of  the  pnme  miniiter  6f  Tudn 
chanped  to  arrive  with  the  money  at  thid  time,  arid 
seeing  the  British  consul  in  conversation  with  com- 
modore Decatur,  threw  down  the  bass  wliich  con- 
tained it  with  great  indignation,  at  the  same  time  ad- 
dressing the  consul  in  English,  whicli  he  spoke  fluent- 
ly, "You  see,  sir,  what  Tunis  is  obliged  to  pay 
for  your  insolence.  You  must  fpel  ashamed  of  the 
disgrace  you  have  brpught  upon  us.  Voii  are  very 
good  friends  now,,  but  I  ask  you  whether  you  think 
it  just  first  to  violate  pur  neutrality,  aiid  then  to  leave 
us  to  be  destroyed,  or  f^y  for  you r  aggressions . "  As 
soon  as  the  money  was  paid,  the  ^a^Jiaw  preparei( 
to  despatch  a  miniiiter  to  iSngland,  to  iJemand  the 
amoupt  whl^h  he  had  been  oiiii^ed  to  pay  in  conse- 
quence of  this  requisition  of  the  4n(>erican  comhiodorli. 
After  adjusting  tl^ese  dilTerences,  ^W  isquadron 
proceeded  to  Tripoli^  where  commodore  pecaiur 
made  a  similar  jdeiqivid  for  a  similar  violation  of  the 
treaty  subsistirie  betwei^ii  the  United  States  and  the 
bashaw,  who  had  permitted  two  AmeTicah  vdasels  to 
be  taken  trpm  tpder  t^e  gjims  of  bis  castle  by  a  Brit- 


ish sloop  of  wjB^,  ^nd  re/ufied  pojiectioii  to  an  Amer-_  . 
ic^  ctifisejr  iyifig  within  his  jurisdictign.  iteptitu-^? 
tion  of  the  full  value  of  these  vessels  was  demanded, 
and  the  monfy,amoi^t|^gto  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars, paid  by  the  bashaw  into  the  hands  of  lie  Ami^- 
can  oGpiul.  Afteir  the  cpnclusipn  of  thijf  an^ir,  the 
American  consular  flag) wtMahMr.  JoneSp  thecottfttl. 
2tk  "*  'nek,  in  consequence  of  the  vioktipn  of  neiitnu- 
&ty  4i^iova  mgntioned,  was  hoisted  in  the  pi^oca  of. 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


361 


j^ 


and 

Si 

om- 

toh- 

ad' 

lejit- 

pay 

the 
▼er^ 
think 
letfve. 

'    As 


d  the 
ponse- 

adrpii 
ecaiuf^ 
of  the 
nil  the 
^els  tq 
biit- 
Amer 


.estitu;* 
anded) 

■uidl&i- 
Imcjf- 

■air,  the 

conftiil} 
MMitpl- 


'*^ 


the  foreign  agents,  and  saluted  from  the  castle  with 
thirtj*4»ne  guns.  In  addition  to  the  satisfaction  thus 
ebtaioed  for  unprovoked  aggressions,  the  commodore 
had  the  pleasure  of  obtaining  the  release  of  ten  cap- 
tives, two  Danes,  and  eight  Neapolitans,  the  latter  of 
whom  he  landed  at  Messina. 

iifter  touching  at  Messina  and  Naples,  the  sqpiad- 
roDi  sailed  fof  Catthagena  on  the  31st  of  August, 
where  commodore  Decatur  was  m  expectation  of 
meeting  the  relief  squadron,  under  oommodoce  Bain- 
bridge.  On  joining  that  officer  at  Gibraltar,,  he  re- 
linquished his  command,  and  sailed  in  the  Guerriere 
fkHr  the  United  States^  where  he  anived  on  the  12th 
of  Novembeiv  1  Bild.  Every'  thing,  being  done  previ- 
OM'tOithe  anrival  of  the  second  division!  of  the  sqpad- 
rQn,'Under  oemmodorB  Bainbridge,  that  gallant  offices 
had  iiDionooatMiitv  ofdistinpushing  himself^as  we  are 
aadsfied  he  adways  will  where^  occasion  occurs. 
Pursuant  to  hia  instructionB  he  exhibited  this  additicnir 
al)  foDce^  befere  Algiers^.  T!)|^|^ltl^  Tripoli^  where 
^y  wieref  sdmewhat^  aurpriscic$l^  the  <  appeanuk^i.  of^ 
tiiA  Independense  i  seventy-four^.  Ittwing ,  always  been 
peiMfldedi  that  the*  Uiuted  States  weie  restricted  bji; 
tkeio  tieatiesi  Witht  England  fromi  building,  ships-ofr 
that^cIasR.  Whenicoldneii  Leaii  was  oonsul.at  Algiers 
hv  endeavoured  to  convince  the  nunistera  o£  the  dey 
tfaattanch  was  notrtberease';,  but  theyr  sdways.  refklied, 
"^If/  joAn  annpetmitted  to^biald  seventyrfours,  let  us 
see  one  of  them  and'  we  shallihe  stitisfied;"  Comi 
modore  Bainbridge  sailed  from  Gibraltar  thirty-six 
hours  before  the  Guerriere,  and  arrived  at  Boston  the 
16th  of  November. 


Ji' 


t62 


IfAVAL    BATTLES. 


4^ 


Thus  was  concluded  an  expedition  in  which, 
though  few,  perhaps  no  opportunities  occurred  for 
a  display  of  the  hardj  prowess  of  our  sailors,  the  na- 
tion acquired  singular  honour,  in  humbling  and  chas- 
tising a  race  of  lawless  pirates,  who  have  long  been 
the  inreterate  scourges  of  the  christian  world.  Inde- 
pendently of  the  glory  thus  accruing  to  the  republi- 
can name,  the  probable  advantages  arising  from  this 
sudden  and  unlooked-for  appearance  of  an  American 
squadron  immediately  after  a  war,  with  Great  Bri- 
tain, we  think  will  be  manifold.  This  circumstance 
will  give  them  an  idea  of  the  power  and  resources  of 
the  United  States  altogether  different  from  that 
which  they  before  entertained ;  and  serve  to  con- 
vince them  of  the  danger  of  provoking  their  resent- 
ment under  any  expectation  of  the  destruction  of 
their  navy  by  any  power  whatever.  WThat  the  as^ 
surance  of  an  immediate  war  with  England  was  what 
principally  encouraged  the  dey  of  Algiers  to  com- 
mence ho^tilitief  S^l^jfs^  the  United  States,  under 
a  conviction  that  oSir  "little  navy  would  speedily  he 
annihilated,  is  evident  from  the  following  fact*  One 
of  the  dey's  officers  one  morning  insinuated,  whether 
true  or  false  we  cannot  say,  to  the  British  consul  at 
Algiers,  that  it  was  his  fault  that  they  declared  war. 
<*  You  told  us,"  said  he,  **  that  the  American  navy 
.would  be  destroyed  in  six  months  by  you,  and  now 
they  make  war  upon  us  with  two  of  your  own  ves- 
8^9  they  have  taken  from  you !" 


/ , 


\111 


NAVAL  POETRY. 


From  a  great  nuitaber  of  nautical  songs  and  other' 
effbsions  of  poetry,  that  have  appeared  in  the  period- 
ical works  of  our  country,  we  have  selected  the  fol- 
lowing, as  not  unworthy  of  preservation. 


-^t- 


a; 


FROM  TBI  rORT  FOLIO. 

OCEAN.— A  NAVAL  ODE. 

All  hail,  thou  mightiest,  monstrous  Power! 
To  whom^  in  this  tempestuous  hour, 

The  Nations  bow  the  knee! 
This  hour,  when  Heaven's  right  arm  hath  hurled 
Its  thunders  round  a  warring  world, 
0*er  Christendom  one  bloody  flag  unfurled— 

We  lift  our  eyes  to  Thee! 

Primeval  Power!  ere  Order  sprung. 
While  yet  o'er  chaos  darkness  hung, 
Thou  wert;  and  when,  in  onward  tioM;, 
The  impious  mortal  stain'd  by  crime 
The  image  of  his  sire  sublime;— 
Then,  great  Avenger!  didst  thou  riM, 
And  swelling  to  the  darken'd  skiee, 
Each  of  thy  waves  commissioned  then 
Whelm'd  in  the  worthless  race  of  men' 


;  <  I 


U'i^ 


264 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


OoBAH — that  TMierftbU  name 
What  tongua  unflihaiinf  shall  proclaim) 
Hare,  at  u^n  mj^  natiTe  pliuo 
That  boriaM  on  tif  wMa  4MMii, 
I  atand,  and  ilrive  om  glimpoo  to  gain 
Of  half  thj  worthi  but  itriTe  in  rain. 

^(MMn-to  i#m  hiu>d««<l  hwdaia  gU/uk 
To  toaf  their  foam  againat  thu  fkce  of  he«ren| 
And  ere  inaaKedthearen  ita  wrath  can  ihoWi^ 
RatMi*i»aaAt9r  tvth*  ttB/fmhOowt 

Where  man  nor  angel  e'er  could  pry, 

Who  tn«n«i— »,  >fffin(|  *htii  Taigjity  globO) 
Am  in  one  vaat,  cerulean  robe. 
And  weottb— whoae  many  maaaiTe  h»Kp§ 
Lie  piled  widkln  thj  cavem-dbepa, 
Where  i^^  Vetwnw  unfold 
llieir  eoplbua  ▼eilia  of  liquid  gotd, 
Aa(L«tb«r.  |indi«i.«9e,.tA  «|)iim4. 
Of  riral  gfmn^  %  VfuMfigM^ 

Tet,i  ^ipnd  awd  awifol  aa  tl^u  artu, 
'lla  oiira,  n^  no  forebodioK,  heHt«, 

Tq  count  th^  ijlori^p  o'er;;^-* 
Deacendenta  fiom,that,wepteri\  wildi^ 
Of  HeaTen  the  litest,  lovelieat  child, 
Who,  8iiAiti«ith|i'pMteciioft|  amilfd}! 
Blooining;Mtlba^ftMriiiaB(iilinii6Bft«fl|. 
And  kiiiiiiB  tenaM  hottllha  wanj  anfi'Thii^ 
TUl  He,  tifi  ahoaeiD  ohiflftMi^  oaoMy 
Genoa's  boast)  ftaMftskame^ 

(Blest,  ha^htoaeiwi^aeaaUQle^tllettblBiiqini^^ 

Ifor  Qnmd  di^igMMe)  and* 
He  wooMbandt^ 


And  gmtitD  he*  hit  hniiiiii** 


.) 


iV 


';   i 


IbiL 


BATTLIS. 


I  • 


■> » 


£*er  since  that  Inm,  their  «WMr«a>  irt, 
la  weal  or  wo  <fli7  aid  ota  fee.-^ 
In  war,  thy  faarding  waten  laaa, 
A  fence  beC#«en  oa  and  out  torn. 
In  peace,  thy  itara  have  been  our  guidea. 
Our  eoanera  swift,  tl^  foaming  tides, 
And  safo  hate  been  our  biUowy  rides, 
As  when  some  white-wing*d  seraph  glides 

To  ha?en  of  r^poael 

Far  to  thai  execrated  shore. 
Where  ancient  Carthage  towered  dfyore, 
Twaa  thy  supporting  arms  tliat  1>ore 
'Gainst  Punic  perfidy,  the  hand, ' 
Who  well  «vei^M  «wr  in|}ured  land; 
And  drove  the  ■eresceat)  bath*d  in  hlood» 
To  hide  iU  Mushes  «n  4he  ilood. 
But  wImb  m  eifert  could  withatand 
The  willy  Tmfc*s  «asnaring  iiaad, 
Snatched  for  4faemaelves  the  lighted  brand, 
And  BBoanliag  in ««hreiid  of  flanN^ 
Died  to  4h0  worid— to  live  in  AbmI 


^ 


■t/r 


?.,a<" 


And  •new — Ihougk  in  the  recent  year 
That  «0B4pass'd  our  '^diamal  sphere," 
Defeat,  disgrace,  and  waat,  aa|d  fear^ 
Wherwrer  else  we  look,  appear^ 
Yet,  when  to  Thee  we  turn  our  eyea, 
Some  stars  amid  the  storms  arise. 
to )  twiee  wlthtti  that  little  year. 
Behold  yon  trophied  barque  appear, 
Whose  Eagle,  in  the  wat'ry  field, 
IVice  bade  tiie  British  Lionjrield ! 
I^nieae  neUe  BMMt  yet  stands  to  tell 
Hb  natire  oaks,  it  naTKB  vau.  t 
34 


^«.'^'*P 


*  i 


266  IfATAL    BATTiiBS. 

And  bids  Defiance'  loudest  blest 
Challenge  the  world  to  mate  that  mast^ 
For  service 'shar'd-Hfor  duty  done— 
For  danger  dar'd— for  Tict'ry  won!* 

•    Ere,  echoing  round  our  gladdenM  shore,' 
The  peal  of  triumph  scarce  was  o'er^  , 
Thou  bad'st  thy  winds  to  b^ar  again, 
O'er  all  its  hilb  the  lofty  strain; 
To  tell  them  that  another  sail, 
Mid  dark  October's  stormy  gale, 
In  direst,  deadliest  shock,  could  close 
With  hearts  as  brave  as  Britain  knows. 
And  in  that  shock  prevail !  t 

We  crf|wd  not  on  the  shudd'ring  sight 
The  horrors  of  that  awful  fight: 
Not  ours  to  count  the  cruel  scars, 
And  groans,  and  wounds  of  ocean-wars. 
Let  others  note  hoW;  side  by  side. 
The  virtuous  and'the  valiant  died* 
Where  gi^ 'gainst  gun,  encount'ring,  lay 
So  nefui;,  they  cr9S0'd  each  others  way! 
And  from  the  suff 'ring  and  the  slain. 
The  life^ream  mingled  with  the  main! 
Till  Conquest  grasp'd  his  laurel'd  crown. 
Less  as  a  symbol  of  renown. 
Than  to  conceal  from  sight, -firom  thought. 
Proofs  of  the  price  at  which  'twas  bought! 

*  ItMtcanelyneeMniytoitate,  thatthkaUndMtothetwoeonqaflittaebieTad 
bjr  the  "  Coutitation"  orar  the  Gaeiriere  and  Java — the  fint  vadfit  the  imow' 
diale  command  of  captain  Hall;  the  aeeond,  under  that  of  commodora  Baio- 
bridge.  It  has  been  asMrtsd,  that  no  veaiel  of  equal  force  haa  been  known,  ja 
any  aervice,  to  have  aeqiiired  a*  rnfsz'a  glory  in  aa  little  time. 

t  The  mgagement  between  captain  Jonea,  indie  "Waap,"  aadths  '*  FVolio/' 
bfwhieh  the  ktter  WM  eaptoKd 


liered 
iDine- 
Baio' 


NAVAL    BATShRS^ 

l# 
Thou,  OcAttB,  thou,  the  Mamao's  aira! 

Witness  for  uf,  whilo  deeds  like  thote 

^pproT*d  our  prowess  to  our  foes, 

Did  thej  sot,  'nid  ourselves,  inspire 

In  all,  the  emulous  desire 

As  well  to  act,  as  to  admire? 

Witness,  as  well  it  may,. 
That  One  coUld,  unattended,  roam 
To  Albion^s  very  channel  home. 

In  vain,  but  bold  assay;^ 
knd  One  could  bid  his  cannon  sound 
To  St.  Salvador's  forthest  ground, 
Till  Andes  might  th<e  shock  rebound, 

Ofchallenging  the  fraylt    ' 

And  soon,  with  streamertt  wAving  nigh. 
On  thy  blue  throne  exalted  high. 
We  hail'd  another  naval  son — 
Graced  with  the  gift  his  arm  had  won; 
A  rare  and  goodly  gift,  to  greet 
A  country,  ever  proud  to  meet 
The  same  chivalrous  chief,  who  bore 
Rich  tributes  once  from  Barb'ry*s  shore. 

As  Allah's  sons  can  tell; 
But  now  a  nobler  trophy  shows, 
Wrested  from  mightier,  manlier  foes. 

Who  fought  so  long — so  well.| 
Vict'ry  was  ocrs.  and,  conflict  o'er, 
Found  Mercy  had  been  out»  before;' 
And  Kindness,  froc:  eleeti<m  free, 
And  frank,  high-mioded  Courtesy.  * 

In  losing  Peace,  we  have  not  lost 
That  gentle  grace  she  prizes  most. 

,  J  Tbe  eidM  of  ovautedM^Bodjpn; 
- 1  Tlw  dmlleoge  of  cnptain  Lvmrnte*  to  the  Bim  CitoyflB. 
t  The  eaptarftMid  m&  eooAMt  bwM,  of  Um  '<  MMsdoniFvi,"  by 
Osntor. 


m 


Hi 


IMS 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


l'  ' 


So  TOMf  the  goddcM,  when  again 
||ie  reaMenda  her  eaered  fiuie--' 
*     t'that  fane,  whoae  gatea,  alaa!  now  doa'd, 
Have  ilood  to  fbree  and  fraud  ezpoa'd;  • 
Find  still  upon  her  ahar'a  urn 
Unquench'd  ita  iand>ent  lustre  bum. 
WiAout  is  all  the  alorni  and  din — 
Hie  veatal  flame  yet  Kvea  intikm 

Once  more,  upoii  thy  list  of  fiune, 
Ocean!  inaciilK^  another  qame. 
Surely  we  niay  not  aak  in  vain 
For  him,  who  ne'er  can  ask  again! 
For  him,  roost  pri^'di  yet  pitied  moat, 
For  Lawrbnck,  honoured — Lawrence,  lost' 
For  htm,  who  erat  the  figfat  maintained. 
And  erst  the  conqu'rer's  chaplet  gain'd, 

And  bettor,  nobler  far. 
Who  sprang  where  battle  fiercest  bled, 
Between  the  living  and  the  dead, 

And  stayed  the  waste  of  war! 
For  him,  whose  virtues  were  declar'd 
By  eneoies  his  swerd  had  spar'd. 
What  time  his  arm  bnmanely  dared 
The  reeling  captive  to  sustain. 
And  snatdi  the  sinking  from  the  main. 
The  life,  in  fight  half  lost  before. 
Was  now  to  peril  risk'd  once  aMre; 
Till,  aiding  in  the  great  emprize, 
His  comrades  sunk  before  his  eyes. 
This,  this,  may  Fame's  subltmest  song 
In  everlasting  note  prolong ! 
0  glorious  end!  O  denth  of  pride! 
' The  victors  for  the  vanquish'd  died!* 

*  The  aUnuirdniMy  neitkMM  of  the  oAeera  and  erew  of  the  **  Hornet,"  after 
Mr  violory  evw  the  "  Peeeock,'*  for  rtie  safety  and  eoMibrt  of  tMr  piftMiien, 
moat  be  fieafa  in  the  minda  of  every  American,  and  we  tniit,  of  eveiy  Britea 


A 


after 


PfAVAL     BAYTLEI 

But  be  the  shouts  of  tricunph  o'«r; 
Strike  the  high  warbling  harp  do  mom! 
And  let  the  minstrel's  measure  know 
No  toooiy  but  tones  of  martiil  wo! 
O'er  the  slow-undulating  tide 
Let  only  mournful  muaiek  f;lide. 
And  but  the  solemn-sou  nd^ug  oar 
Awake  the  silence  of  the  shore. 
Let  Fancy  to  the  tufted  steep, 

For  sad,  sepulchral  sights  r^ire, 
Where  wildly  o'er  the  moaning  deep 
The  niennaids  tear  ^  <  ^ 

Thctfr  golden  hair,  ^ 

And  fling  it  on  the  funeral  pjrre. 

Such  sorrows,  to  the  patriot  de«r, 
Befit  a  hero's  bloody  bi«r; 
Such,  Lawrence!  to  thy  name  b^  p»jidf 
All  that  can  gjreet  thy  gnUAmt  ihftd^. 
Oh  thou,  whose  gen'rous  9xv»  coul4  iwfe  fH^ 
Thy  fellows  from  an  early  grave,  *^ 

What  blessings  had  to  hiiJ9  helo^'d 
Who  hed  ^  life  like  thine  prolonged? 
Long  on  the  sadden'd  mind  s^^">^  stay 
The  thought  of  that  djtmstrou:  ^ay, 
When,  with  thy  few  brave  folhwfirs  roup^r 
Thou  dared'^t  4isput«  th'  unequal  gro^uQil^ 
Till  sunk  heoBAth  thy  vf^ori^  w»iim)« 
Nor,  then-— in  the  rec<prdin|^  lin,^ 
JJe'er  be  it  *aid— to  yieW  wm  th^pei; 
Till  reeliqg  pepse  and  fsinting  li^ 
Withheld  thee  from  th»  4«spVHt)»  stnfo^ 


For  obvioiu  reawnfi  we  have  not  noticed  oar  naval  actiona  eitedy  in  the  ( 
in  which  they  ocoarred:— and  for  reaaona  aqnally  obviona,  have  avoided  the  !»• 
traduction  of  acy  individnal  names,  exoept  of  thoae  de|iaftad  ewnmandm,  te 
whom,  alaa!  nothing  hat  a  aaaa  raauuna. 


ritM 


S70 


KAVAL    BATTLES. 


^r  ^M  that  bloody  banner  down, 
tely  itarr'd  with  thy  renown. 
as  thy  arm  could  wield  a  aword-^ 
08  thy  lipa  eould  breathe  a  word, 
Thy  deeds,  thy  Toice,  this  truth  reTeal*d*-ii 
That  Lawrence  never  knew  to  yield  ! 
Nought  but  the  final  Enemy 
Who  conquers  all — ^has  conquered  theet 

Tet  still,  the  tributary  rerse 
Must  flow  lamenting  round  thy  hearse; 
For  1^^  Heayen  in  thee  combin'd 
The  iKmiiit  with  the  softest  mind. 
Seem*d  that  thou  wert  but  lent,  to  show 
The  rest  of  ocean^s  race  below    '  ^^  «*'  -^  '*^- 
How  all  the  charities  might  blend. 
Of  father,  brother,  husband,  firiend;  ' 

Till  jteifeoting  the  patriot  plan, 
The  warrior  mellowed  in  the  man ! 
JMMiark!  E^en  now  what  tidings  swell? 
LmI,  hvt  not  least,  they  speed  to  tell 
Where  9irrows  the  iutader  spoiPd, 
His  ^zamf  his  arts,  o^erpowerM  and  foU'd| 

Bur  in  the  struggle  fsU! 
Then  be  it  sot  Ail  epd  ko  great, 
No  sighs  but  sighs  of  Envy  waitf  ' 

What  could  a  Roman  triumph  more, 
Than  paas*d  bis  closing  eye  before? 
With  faltering  hand  and  bosom  gor'd, 
'Twas  his  to  grasp  a  conqVor's  sword, 
Like  gallant  Wolfe,  welt "  satisfied,*' 
In  that  he  conquered,  and  he  died! 

Ocean  !  when  storms  of  conflict  o'er, 
Shall  oesolate  our  coasts  no  more; 
But  that  firm  race  of  thine  shall  come 
To  dignify  a  peaceful  home-~> 


NAVAL    BATTLBS% 


271 


O  graot  that  mem  to  prove  themi  tben, 
Better  m  well  ••  brevet  men} 
Wife  to  forbear,  in  civill  lifoi 
av  A*  bold  to  dnre  in  hotrtilie  etrife. 

For  angel-ejree,  thai  torn  afiur 
Abhorrent  from  the  icenes  of  war, 
Have  yet  beheld,  with  tear*  of  joj, 
Virtuee  whieh  war  could  not  deatrojr: 
That,  in  the  hot  and  tempting  hour 
Of  mad  Succeae  and  lawleie  Power, 
When  Av'h  se,  Pride,  Revenge,  contend 
For  maatery  '\n  the  AiMiafi;^!eml, 
Could  chain  thise  furies  to  their  den. 
And  make  the  victors  more  than^men  f 
Nor  solely  to  the  chieftain  free 
This  might  uf  magnanimity: 
Round  many  a  humbler  head  it  glowed— 
Through  many  a  humbler  heart  it  flowed; 
Those  who,  whatever  their  leaders  claim. 
Must  fall,  themselves,  unknown  to  Fanne: 
Theirs  the  toil  without  the  praise— 
The  conquest  theinh-but  not  its  days. 


Then  grant,  greit  Ruler  of  the  main  t 
These  virtues  they  may  long  retain; 
So  shall  th^  waters  ne'er  be  viewM 
Without  a  burst  of  gratitude. 
So,  when  War's  angry  flame  retirea^ 
And,  ling'ring,  on  thy  bed  expires; 
These,  tried  and  purified,  shall  rise, 
And,  phosnix-lifce,  ascend  the  ikiea. 


w 


■^  >%'.k^    '*t*'-i  .^ 


STX  NAVAL  BATTLES. 


ODE  WHITTEN  BY  L.  M.  SAROENT,  ElKk. 

AND  Buiro  AT  THE  Diirfris  eNnmiT  to  oArritiiv  mot/L  bt 

oiTinms  «r  bostoit. 


Britannia's  gallant  atreamen 

Float  proudly  o'er  the  tide; 

And  fairly  wave  Columbia's  stripes^ 

In  battle,  side  by  side. 

And  ne'er  did  bolder  foemen  me^, 

^Vliere  ocean's  surges  pour. 

O'er  the  tide,  now  they  ride^, 

While  the  beU'wing  thunders  row, 

While  the  cannon's  fire  is  flashing  ftsi 

And  the  beU'wing  thunders  roar. 

Wheii  Tankfie  pilots  the  Bnton, 
Whose  blood  congei^ial  flows, 
By  Hea;ven  cr^ed;  to  be  iHenditt 
By  fortune  render'd  foed} 
Hard  then  must  ^  the  battle  ^y« 
Ere  well  the  fight  is  o'er. 
Now  th<^f  rid«»  side  by  side, 
While  the  bfJlVing  thunders  ro«r, 
While  the  cwnon's  fife  is  fiairiiiag  §uM 
And  the  beU'wing;  l|||Hl4er8roal^ 

StiU,  still  for  oobl«  England, 
Bold  Dacr«s!s  i^reamors^i 
Aiid  for  CoJui|iibl%<9l^liUlt  Hqx^'ll 
As  proudly  and  as  b'^h 
Now  louder  rings  the  battle  din, 
More  thick  the  volumes  pour; 
StiU  they  ride,  side  by  side, 
While  the  beH'wing  thunders  roar, 
While  the  cannon's  fire  is  fluriiing  ftsf 
And  the  beU'wing  thunders  roar. 


■^: 


W 


NAVAL     BATTLES. 


.«#■? 


Why  lulls  Britoania't  thunder. 
That  wak'd  the  wal*ry  war? 
Why  stays  that  gallant  Cru^rriere, 
Whose  streamer  wav'd  so  hit  I 
That  straamer  drinks  the  ocean  vave  I 
That  warrior's  fight  is  o'er ! 
Still  they  ride,  side  by  side, 
While  Columbia's  thunders  roar, 
Whue  her  cannon's  fire  is  flashing  halt, 
And  her  Yankee  thunders  roar. 


-i-Tf" 


Uvfkl  'tii  th«  Briton's  lee  gnn ! 
Me'er  bolder  warrior  kneel'd  I 
And  ne'er  to  gallant  mariners 
Did  braver  seamen  yield. 
Proud  be  the  sires,  whose  hardy  koys^ 
Then  fell,  to  fight  no  more: 
With  the  brave,  'mid  (he  wave. 
When  the  cannon's  blunders  roar. 
Their  spirits  then  shall  trim  the  blatl» 
And  swell  the  thunder's  roar. 


Vain  were  the  cheers  of  Britons, 
Their  hearts  did  vainly  swell, 
Where  virtue,  skill,  «nd  bravery 
With  gallant  HCpms  fel). 
That  heart,  so  well  in  battle  tried|, 
Along  the  Moorish  shore, 
Again  o'er  the  main. 
When  Columbia's  thunders  roar, 
Shall  prove  its  Yankee  spirit  tru^n 
When  Columbia's  thunders  roar. 


;l 


It 

II 


Hence  be  our  floating  bulwarks. 
Those  oak»  our  mountain's  yield; 
'Tis  mighty  Heaveii's  plain  dft«r«« 
Then  tali;^  the  wat'ry  Q«ldl 

U 


t74  MiyAL     BATTUEf. 

T*  oc«Mi'i  fiurthMt  barrier  tli«i 
Your  wbit'mof  muI  alMll  pour; 
Safe  they'll  ride,  o'er  tiM  tkle, 
While  Colombia'M  tbttodem  roar, 
While  her  cannon's  fire  is  flaahing  faat) 
Aud  her  Yankee  thunders  roar. 


COLUMBIA'S   NATAL    HKIOES 

■VN«  AT  Tin  DIimXK  eiTKN    TO    VAFTAIN    BIOOLE    BT    TUi    OITUlllt 

or  NSW  roaa. 
,     BT  raAirois  aiout,  ks<i. 

While  Europe  displaying  her  fame  daiciing  paga, 

And  vaunting  Ape  proofii  of  her  high. elevation,        ,|  » 

Exultingly  shows  us,  just  once  in  an  iige. 

Some  patriot  fQur<)  chieftain  the  prop  of  bia  oation;  .,,,, , 

Columbia  can  boaat,  of  her  heroes  a  boat, 

The  foremost  at  Duty's  and  Danger's  proud  post, 

Who  full  often  have  won  upon  ocean's  rough  wave, 

The  brightest  leav'd-  laurel  that  e'er  deek'd  the  brnve. 

•  ....  ^ 

By  freedom  inspir'd  and  with  Ibosbms  of  dame,  ,  . 

They  hurl'd  on  the  foe  all  the  battle's  dread  thunder, 
Till  vanquish 'd  and  humbled,  he  shook  ^  their  name, 
O'erwhelm'd  with  conifusion  with  fear  and  with  wonder; 
No  age  that  has  flown,  such  a  band  e'er  haa  known. 
Who  made  firmness  and  skill  and  mild  manners  their  own. 
And  each  trait  of  the  warrior  so  cloaely  entwin'd. 
With  the  virtues  that  grace  and  ennoble  the  mind.  ^' 

Their  kind.iess  the  hea^s  of  their  captives  subdued. 
Who  sunk  'neath  thoir  arbis  when  the  liih-streama  were  flowing 
And  their  conquest-wove  wreaths  not  a  tear  has  bedew'd 
Bttt  aiMt  which  Humanity  smiles  in  bestowing; 


MAYAL    BATTLKb. 


275 


The  world  with  one  voiee  bide  their  oountrj  rejoice, 
Am  with  blushes  it  owns  thet  theee  aons  of  her  choice 
For  Tftlour  end  feeling  have  gained  the  rich  prise) 
ind  stand  first  midst  ihe  first  that  live  nnder  the 


Their  splendid  achioTements  i^all  long  string  the  nenr« 
Of  all  who  the  blessings  of  fireemen  inherit; 
And  theirs  be  the  honours  such  merit  desenreSf 
And  dear  to  each  bosom  their  death-daring  spirits; 
The  poet's  best  strain,  shall  their  memories  maintain, 
And  affection  embalm  them  to  Time's  latest  reign, 
While  roused  hy  their  praises,  our  sons  shall  aspire, 
To  rival  their  actions  and  glow  with  their  fire. 


f «» ■  t 


THE   FRIGATE   CONSTITUTION. 


•Hue  Bvoaa  tu 


coaroAiTioir  or  rax  oirr 
rocKTH  or  JVX.T,  1815. 

■T  rBAHOIS  ARDIN,   BSO. 


or 


mw  voBii 


m 


1 


Aboo  of  Oreeoe,  Uiat  brought  the  fleece 

To  the  Thessalian  city. 
As  we  are  told,  by  bards  of  old, 

Was  sung  in  numy  a  ditty; 
But  Yankees  claim  a  prouder  name 

To  spur  their  resolution, 
Than  Greece  could  boast  and  do  her  most- 

The  firtgate  Constitution. 


When  first  she  press'd  the  stream's  cool  brtaat, 

Hope  hail'd  her  pride  of  story; 
Now  she  o'erpays  hope's  flatt'ring  j^rvse, 

By  matchless  deeds  of  glory; 


't  !':     WO.' 


«76 


MAYAL    BATTLES. 


Or«U  that  roam  tk«  Mlt  •«•>•  foaa, 
NoM  floata  to  Neptuna  daarar, 
Or   iirar  abuiaa  m  iama'a  bright  Umm 
Or  awra  makaa  Britain  fear  her. 

• 

Waatb  HuU'a  cooHBaand,  witk  a  tougk 

And  nouglMt  baaida  to  baok  bar. 
Upon  A  dagfi  aa  log'4)Ooka  aaj, 

A  Aaat  bora  down  to  thwaak  bar; 
A  iaat,  yon  know,  ia  odds  or  ao, 

Againat  a  aingle  ship  ain; 
Ao  oroaa  Ihe  tide,  bar  iega  abe  triad) 

And  gava  tha  roguaa  tba  alip  aira» 


But  time  fliea  round,  and  soon  abe  Ibund^ 
While  ploughing  ocean's  acres, 

An  even  chance  to  join  the  dance. 
And  turn  keel  up,  pom  Dacraa; 

D%»ff  a,  »t»n  f  latr,  dawisaa  f§U9 
Quite  full  of  fun  and  prank  is, 

Haiatw  to  abip's  muaa,  in  plafM  { 
<c.  ,       Aloft  to  scare  the  Yankees. 


On  BrasU's  coast,  she  rul'd  the  roast, 

Whan  Bainbsi4go  waa  her  oaplaia; 
*Neat  hanynocks  gttw,  made  of  tha 

Dead  Britona  to  bo  wrapp'd  in; 
For  there,  in  ire,  Vnidat  smoke  aid  irt| 

Her  bbjra  the  laira  mat  aiia, 
And  in  the  fray,  her  Yankee  piaf, 

Ti^M  Bull  a  $omtnd  sirs. 

Next  on  her  deck,  at  Fortune's  beck, 

^  dniHtfJaas  Stewart  landads 
A  better  tar  iieV  sbona  in  war. 
Or  4»iinf  #9h1s  commandodii 


:'?•$. 


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ftk^AL    BATTLIS. 

%Mn  JyvMisMy  BOW  mmw  Mom  fMiBji 
In  Mwroh  of  EaglMi  oraiMn; 

And  NophiM  griiii>  to  «••  hit  IwiH^ 
Got  in  an  Imnut  or  two,  tin. 


Thon  raiio  ■mnin,  the  Joyfhl  itrainy 

For  well  eke  hw  dewrrM  it, 
Who  brought  the  foe  to  often  low, 

Clheer*4  freedeir  and  nenr'd  It; 

Long  may  ahe  rid*  ^  pnde, 

And  apur  to  reai 
And  aeamen  boaat,  i.  aen  tout. 

The  VMAATI  otanrrnxnios 


'.:<m 


VnOM  tHi  BALTIMOM  WHIO. 
THE  UNOOUSTBOUB  XNICMIT,  AND  THB  OODmOm  UOti, 

Fob  a  nautical  knight,  a  ImAj — ^heigho! 

Felt  her  heart  and  her  heartpotringa  to  ache; 
To  view  his  aweiiit.fitkife  ahie  kiokM  to  «nd  fr»$-~ 
The  name  of  the  knight,  waa  James  Laoaa  Yeo, 

And  the  lady— Hwas  «^  ^UuLahi. 

**  My  good,  $we$t  sir  James,"  cried  the  .ladj  so  Air, 

"  Since  my  passion  I  cannot  control. 
When  you  see  my  white  drapery  floating  in  air. 
Oh!  thither,  and  quickly  I  prithee  repair 

And  indulge  thp  first  wish  of  my  soul." 

Sir  knight  heard  afar,  of  the  lady's  desire. 

And  sprightly  and  gay  made  reply^ 
**  As  your  heart,  lovely  maid,  doth  my  presence  require, 
I  assure  you  mine  burns  with  an  answering  fire, 

And  quick  to  your  presence  I'll  fly." 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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]3  WiST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)872-4503 


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278 


NATAL   BATTLES. 


From  OaUmo^t  margin  the  tadjr  aet  mU,  h^O 

To  meet  the  bold  knight  on  flkel  wa:  * 

She  dreamt  not  that  he  in  his  promise  would  fiul,       •• 

And  leave  a  fair  lady  alone  to  bewail;— 
Yet  no  knight  far  or  near  could  she  see. 

mpatient  to  meet  him  no  longel  sheM  stay, 
/;  Resolv'd  o'er  the  waters  to  roam: 
"Oh!  say,  have  jou  heard  of  mj  brave  knight  I  fnj. 
He  promised  to  meet  a  fair  lady  to  day, 
But  I  fear  he's  to  Kingston  gone  home.'' 

At  last  she  espied  him — ^what  could  sir  knight  do? 

He  -fidgetted — ran — and  he  tack'd  in  and  out, 
And  kept  far  aloof— yet  he  promised  to  woo; 
Bhe  hail'd  him — "  Sir  knight — ^wont  you  please  to  heavf  to 

What  a  shame  a  fair  lady  to  flout." 

But  away  ran  sir  knight— the  lady  in  vain, 

Her  oglings,  and  glances  employ 'd; 
She  aim'd  at  his  heart,  he  aim'd  at  her  brain, 
Ske  vow'd  from  pursuing  sheM  never  refrain; 

And  the  knight  was  most  sadly  annoy'd. 

At  length  from  the  lady,  the  knight  got  him  clear, 

And^btain'd  fyr  a  teuton  name  rest; 
But  if  the  fair  lady  Jie  ever  comes  near, 
For  breaking  his  promise  he'll  pay  pretty  dear^ 

The  price  eapbm  CKatmcey  knows  best. 


I 

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74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
44 
44 
44 
44 
.44 
44 
44 
SB 

as 

36 
94 

18 


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74 
74 
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LUrr  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY  FOR  IStl 


I 

NaiBM«rVMMla. 

Built. 

1 

NuMOorVflMto. 

B«ki 

ir 

Fnaklla 

BiMtoa,  1814 

18 

OBlario 

BaldMia.I'dr^ 
Haw  Tori.  tBta 
BMMuiato 
NawTik,  I8M 

niiUdelpbia,  18U 

18 

VMeock 

WMhiaittM 

Portamouth,  1816 

18 

BoMoa 

Cotambai 

WMbingUMi,I819 
New  York,  ISSO 
Phltadeiphla,  urn 

18 

UxlaglM 

Oblo 

18 

Vlncenaw 

do.       ie« 

NortkOvoIlM 

18 

Wama 

BoaloB,  1896 

OeUwua 

GMDort,  ino 

inituidpiiia,  lAn 

18 

Natehos 

NorMk,  1817 

44 

UoitadStatM 

18 

Falaauuth 

BoaloBLl8B7 
Naw  York,  MB 
PhUada  pbla,  UBH 

44 

COMtltlltlM 

18 

rariaM 

44 

Oucnian 

nUadelphia,  1814 
BalUBora^lSM 

18 

Vaadalhi 

44 

ivn 

18 

St.Lo«ia 

WaririagloB,  UUe 

44 

POtOMM 

WMhlnghm,  IflBl 

18 

Concord 

PMam  ath,  1818 

44 

BiMdjpwiM 

do           1885 

19 

DolpkiB 

PhlUuMphto,  Uyt 

44 

HudWHi 

farehHOd,  18M 
FloftMiMMtfc,  1799 
Baltinora,  1797 

19 

Gramiiaa 

WaahtaHoii/lflU 

38 

OOMNM 

n 

PWlHIODlll,  MR 

36 

COMUItatlOB 

19 

Shark 

PutliaaadrulB 

as 

0>ptai«d,  1819 

3 

Fox 

94 
M 
U 

John  A4uH 

2r 

CiMriMlOB.  80.1799 
BStlmin,16U 

Aleit,aloiaaUr 
8aaO«ll«4o 

VBBSELB  BUILDINO. 


w 

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WheialmUdiBg. 

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WktnMlu;> 

w 

74 
74 
74 
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Alabam 
VaraioBt 
Vfarginia 
FaaaaytTaaia 
Naw  York 

FOrtamooth 

Boaloa 

Do. 

Pbiladalpiite 

Norfblk 

FMaMtth 

44 
44 
44 
44 
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